Nepali documentary feature Bhagyele Bacheka Haru, has won an award in the UK. The acclaimed documentary won the Best Documentary Award at the first Edinburg Nepali Film Festival. The documentary is garnering very good reviews all around the world.
During the event organised to celebrate the bicentennial relationship between the UK and Nepal, ‘Sunpaani’, directed by Sabin Bastola, won the Best Feature Film award. Similarly, Kamal Bhatta-helmed Chokhyani won the award for Best Short Movie.
Bhagye le Bacheka Haru had also recently won the Best Documentary Award at the Panorama section in the KIMFF Festival in Kathmandu. The 45-minute documentary revolves around the story of the survivors in last year’s quakes.
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Bhagye le Bacheka Haru wins best documentary award
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‘Sherpa’ a documentary on Everest avalanche aired
The 69th British Academy Film Awards nominated “Sherpa”, based on the story of the massive avalanche that tore through the Khumbu Icefall killing 16 persons, was aired on Discovery channel on April 18.
Australian documentary filmmaker Jennifer Peedom’s directorial venture recounts the harrowing story of the 14 million ton avalanche that tore through the Khumbu Icefall killing 16 Sherpas, the worst tragedy in the history of Mt Everest, a release said.
Through first-hand live recordings, voices of the guides themselves, their families, and the climbers who were preparing to annex the summit when the disaster struck, Sherpa chronicles the defining moment of tragedy and resistance on April 18, 2014.
Sherpa was produced by Bridget Ikin, co-founder of Felix Media, a leading independent film and television company in Australia and John Smithson, Joint Creative Director of Arrow Media, one of the UK’s top independent creative forces and directed by Jennifer Peedom.
“Sherpa” was nominated in the Best Documentary category at the 69th British Academy Film Awards, which took place earlier this year.
This documentary will be a global television event telecast in more than 220 countries and territories. The documentary will be aired on the channel at 9:15 pm NST. -
Actor Thinley dies in an accident
Actor Thinley Lhondup passed away on Sunday. It is reported that the septuagenarian fell from his horse in the morning while traveling home to Saldang VDC from Chepka in Phoksundo VDC in Dolpa.
The actor was the protagonist of the 1999 film ‘Himalaya’ popularly known as ‘Caravan’ directed by French filmmaker Eric Valli. He played an ageing village chief from Dolpa and won accolades for his performance as the strong traditional chief.
‘Caravan’ was the first Nepali film to be nominated for the prestigious Academy Awards. It was nominated in the Best Foreign Film category at the 72nd Academy Awards but lost to the Spanish film ‘All About My Mother.’
Even though Thinley became popular popularity after the film, his life remained unchanged. He wanted to continue acting while remaining in Upper Dolpa but no big offers ever came his way.
After ‘Caravan,’ Nepalis will fondly remember Thinley for starring in folk rock band Nepathya’s popular music video for ‘Sa Karnali’ in 2003. He was also part of the Nepali film ‘Eku Back Again’ in 2012.
Police were preparing to bring Caravan actor Thinley’s body to Dunai, district headquarters of Jumla on Monday. -
Belt and Road projects shouldn’t be loss-leaders
By Huang Rihan – The latest flip-flop in a Chinese-Thai rail project has raised new questions about China’s massive investment in Southeast Asia, a crucial link in its whole chain of “Belt and Road” initiative. Halted by the Thai side over disagreement on some details, the landmark project is stuck at the blueprint stage despite joint endorsements by heads of both governments.
Earlier this month, Thai Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, in an interview with The Straits Times, said the rail project is a “friendship project,” and the Chinese should not “make any profits.”
Thailand insists that the interest rate China offers – 2.5 percent – is too high and should be reduced to 2 percent, which is the rate China offered to Indonesia for the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project. Besides, China has estimated the project at 500 billion baht ($14.2 billion), 100 billion more than Thailand’s projection. If Thailand has its way, the Chinese enterprises responsible for the project will incur great losses. And it might cause a domino effect of malicious price competition.
When high-ranking officials from China and Thailand cut the ribbon at a groundbreaking ceremony for the rail project last December, some Thai academics expressed concerns over the project. Sompong Sirisoponsilp, an associate professor with Chulalongkorn University, published an article on the Matichon website, saying the Thai government should slow down the pace of the project.
Such concerns are shared by an increasing number of Thai media outlets and scholars. And by using the terms of the Jakarta-Bandung project as a benchmark, Thailand keeps pushing the envelope and demands China to concede more benefits.
Thailand’s demands are not focused on reciprocity. If China accepts unreasonable conditions in every project while promoting the “Belt and Road” initiative, China will not acquire any “friendship” and the projects will cause consistent losses.
In the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project, China offered Indonesia a series of unprofitable terms. It set a bad example for other countries that intend to cooperate with China in similar projects. Countries along the “Belt and Road” initiative are all hoping to get the same favorable treatment from China, which seems willing to work at a loss. The Jakarta-Bandung project is clearly not a good example for sustainable joint business.
Cooperation without a consensus of reciprocity cannot last long. If one side benefits much more from a joint project than the other, cooperation will eventually break down and inflict damage on bilateral relations.
Thailand has downplayed or even distorted the nature of the rail project. It is a business project, not an aid program. Chinese construction companies are willing to get involved in the construction of the rail project mainly because it is profitable. They are not moved by so-called friendship and are unwilling to take the risk of becoming loss-leaders.
The “Belt and Road” initiative is designed by China to create new growth poles and find new economic incentives for both China and the countries invovled. The process should be sufficiently motivated so that nations and companies are willing to participate and the regional economy can be boosted.
There will be no dynamic market if the profits from investments cannot be distributed properly. Recent years have seen quite a lot of critical voices against Chinese companies for failing to comply with labor, environment and quality standards. These standards can be met only when these companies have reasonable budgets. Low budget will only lead to low-quality work, which will jeopardize the common interests of both sides.
The ups and downs of the Chinese-Thai rail project not only display Thailand’s concerns, but also sounded the alarm for Chinese companies while going overseas. Before celebrating the success of high-speed rail diplomacy, China should fully evaluate the challenges and risks in the process of construction. China should hone its skills and techniques in the promotion of the “Belt and Road” initiative in case other countries believe Beijing can compromise its bottom line easily. Such a bad impression will cause huge negative effects on China’s national interests.
(The author is a research fellow at the Institute of Maritime Silk Road of Huaqiao University and the Center for China and Globalization. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn)
(Global Times) -
One year after the devastating earthquake
By Prajwal Shrestha – The Indian blockade has become a big excuse for the government as the government has failed to show its performance in helping the earthquake victims. With great fanfare, 12 Baisakh (24 April) was marked as the devastating earthquake memorial day by organizing different programmes. President Vidya Bhandary went to Barpak, Gorkha, epicenter of the 25 April earthquake last year and PM KP Sharma Oli went to Chautara in Sindhuplanchok, another district strongly affected from the earthquake. So what? The locals, victims of the earthquake, are still taking shelter under the one year old tent and the Reconstruction Authority has already said that it is impossible to resettle the victims in temporary constructions before the rainy season. After waiting for a long time for the government support, many of the victims have started to construct new houses by taking loans as the Reconstruction Authority is yet to complete the survey on the damage of the houses of the local people. As the victims were unable to replace the one year old tents, they are compelled to use old tents which cannot stop rains this year. During the winter season, many victims having old age were killed in the quake hit districts. There was no presence of the government. Even the donor community had asked the government why it failed to spend the fund granted by them for quake victims and reconstruction works of the destroyed structures.
The Reconstruction Authority has said that due to the delay in constitution of the Authority and also due to the Indian blockade, it could not accelerate the reconstruction works. If the one year after the 25 April earthquake is properly evaluated, there has been no achievement except from false promises from the political leaders.
Even during the time when the countrymen were suffering hard from the devastating earthquake, the leaders of the major political parties were busy in sharing power only. The major three parties endorsed the 16-point agreement and became busy in promulgation of the constitution by keeping aside the plight of the earthquake victims. The political leaders were seen so cruel that they could not sense the seriousness of the situation on the humanitarian ground. Still, people from the quake-hit areas are saying that they have not seen the government authorities.
The government and the political parties could use the post-quake situation as an opportunity for reconstruction. If reconstruction works were started on time, the country’s economy could be accelerated. Contrary to that, the government has not been able to use the allotted budget amount due to which the donor countries/agencies have questioned about the efficiency of the government. If the government fails to spend the funds allotted in development projects, this is an indication of failure of the economy. In this regard, Nepal is heading towards a failed state. It is surprising to note that even after warnings from the donor community that it would take back the committed amount for reconstruction projects if the government fails to start the reconstruction projects, the political leaders are least bothered. They are fighting for sharing power and making money through corruption and black-marketing. -
Hogwash
The average Nepali, as everyone knows, is poor. The choice of their dwelling is based on their purse. Their thatched huts are of little choice. Mud bricks, bamboos and straw roofing are within their limited reach. If they can afford a little more, there is choice in kilned bricks or neighborhood rocks and imported corrugated roofing becomes natural. RBC and RCC construction is for those who can afford the choice. Engineered housing in the rural areas is rarer still. So what are our experts saying when they say they will provide housing that is earthquake resistant to people effected by last year’s earthquake? Are they saying that government is to bear the cost? Can we afford it? Indeed, what they have been saying, on the other hand, is that providing sheer relief and rehabilitation is beyond our means. The media is certainly not asking the right questions from day one of the quake. The political cabal that dominates politics would want to insure that resources be channeled through them and so much large promise has been given. The donors who have demonstrated largesse now conclude that nothing much has been done. We can surely conclude that since what should have been done then was not done, what is being promised to be done will fall far short from expectations. The effected people will remain disenchanted since what is being promised is beyond our very means at the outset.
Of course, the media now concludes that our performance has left us lacking. They should have been aware that our local mechanism has been thoroughly disrupted by the vapid partisan politics of today. The security forces who jumped into the relief activities c could not escape the laudations due them since theirs was the only visible performance. It was clear that they acted suited the urgency and politics could not rein in their performance. None, however, in keeping with political reality, advocated that the security forces be left in charge of the relief and rehabilitation efforts even after the immediate urgency was met. It was merely a question of organization and their organization had already been proved the most adept at locating the effected population and providing them the immediate relief. The other sectors, as was already being reported was more used to preying upon the effected population and their kleptocratic performance is the reason why the effected population is being left high and dry as the media itself now admits. So when so much continues to be media grist in terms of commemorating the tragedy more promises regarding performance cannot but be hogwash. We are talking of reconstruction and rehabilitation as if the effected population is going to be fully subsidized. The effort should have been to help the population to help themselves. In fact, it is this population that is being asked to go through seasonal hardships over the year since the disaster with mere token support even which is said yet to reach the population targeted. Hogwash. We said it. They say it too. The negativity is permeating and all pervasive. -
Nationwide movement for Hindu kingdom
By Our Reporter, Ramchandra Baniya Chettri, a resident of Birtamod, Jhapa, informed that his organization is launching a nationwide movement to restore Nepal as a Hindu kingdom.
Chettri, chair of the Deshbhakta Nagarik Abhiyan Nepal (Patriotic Citizens’ Campaign Nepal) and also chair of the National Joint Religious Forum Hindu Rastra Nepal, a front of 25 religious organizations, talking to People’s Review, said that a joint move has been initiated to restore Nepal as a Hindu kingdom and to cancel federalism. He said that the front of different organisations is observing 4 Jesth (17 May) as a black day as on that day, Nepal was declared a secular republic.
As this constitution is imposed by the foreign puppets in the interests of the foreign powers, he is in a mission to scrap this constitution, Chettri remarked.
Besides restoration of Hindu kingdom and scraping federalism, his campaign is to return back the Nepali territory lost after the Sugauli Treaty. Chettri recalled that in the past he had launched a campaign in collaboration with late Yogi Naraharinath by constituting an organization named Nepali Soil Preservation Forum to return Nepali territory lost in Sugauli Treaty. He claimed that Nepal was expanded to the western part of Bangladesh in the east to northern part of Pakistan in the west and Ganges River in the south. In Bangladesh, around 4000 bighas of our land has been included, he said.
He explained that according to the map of greater Nepal developed by Keshab Gurung, which is described at the Article one of the compilation of Nepal’s treaties published by Yogi Naraharinath, his organization is campaigning for return of the lost territories of Nepal.
“We never want to make Nepal to become another Lebanon, we will never allow the rulers to divide Nepal on the basis of different communal groups; we will never allow intervention of the foreign army in our soil,” Chettri said.
He claimed that there are thousands of people under his organization and they all are preparing to launch a nationwide movement to achieve the above goals.
Chettri, as he intensified the campaign, he faced different nine fake cases including the allegation of plotting a bomb attack in a Church. He was arrested and tortured by the Police. Still he is facing four court cases on fake charges by the Christians.
He so far, clarified that his organisations are not against any of the organisations and beliefs, however, his organisations are trying to develop relations with the patriotic forces in other countries and never organizing activities by hurting interests of the neigbouring and other friendly countries. -
Kanak Dixit under CIAA investigation
By Our Reporter, The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Friday detained chairman of Sajha Yatayat Kanak Mani Dixit to probe into the charges of illegally amassing property by abusing his authority. Dixit, himself claims as a “senior” journalist and a human rights activist, though he worked as a clerk for a long time in the United Nations some decades back.
CIAA, in a press statement, has stated that it is investigating into the charges filed against the Sajha Yatayat chairman, including the allegation that he amassed property by abusing the public authority and deposited sums in domestic and foreign banks in his name and in the names of other family members, besides acquiring an apartment in the US.
CIAA said Dixit maintains two accounts in CHASE Bank of the USA with $17,208.74 and while wife Shanta operates a separate account in HSBC Bank, UK, and two personal accounts in Apple Bank, USA, with deposit $ 68,926.48 and Pound Sterling 4,126.39, respectively.
Pound Sterling 27,638.88 was deposited in the two accounts of HSBC Bank, UK, in the name of Kanak Mani and Shanta Dixit.
CIAA claimed that Dixit had not informed Nepal Rastra Bank about the transaction of $50,000 sent from HSBC London to Matrix TV Private Limited in the name of Kanak himself, his father Kamal Mani Dixit and Anju Dixit.
CIAA spokesperson claimed Dixit possess 36,000 shares of Standard Chartered UK and jointly he and his wife have 120,000 shares of HSBC UK.
Kanak’s wife Shanta owns the apartment bought on 10 November 2010, at a cost of US$435,000.
The South Asia Trust chaired by Dixit has received Rs 11,12,49,435.96 on different dates from various foreign organisations of Switzerland, the USA and the Netherlands, CIAA said.
A police team, deployed by the CIAA, had taken Dixit into custody from his private residence in Patan Dhoka, Lalitpur.
CIAA spokesperson Krishna Hari Pushkar said the police had to be mobilised to take Dixit under control after he turned down CIAA’s repeated requests, sent through letters and over the phone, to present himself before the anti-graft body.
He is also accused of selling the organisational property as his own inherited property and investing the income in other corporations.
The police team handed over a warrant to him, which mentioned that the CIAA needed to probe into complaints filed against Dixit.
The CIAA had received complaints that Dixit amassed property illegally, according to the warrant.
Dixit was kept in custody of Gaushala Police Circle, as CIAA’s detention centre is being renovated. Later, when he complained of blood-pressure and heart problem, Dixit was admitted at the Bir Hospital. He is undergoing treatment at the ICU of the Hospital.
The Appellate Court on Sunday gave permission to CIAA to keep Dixit for ten days under the CIAA custody for further investigation.
Some media persons have been trying to protect Kanak by quoting his brother Kunda Dixit, who gives only the health reports, maybe to get humanitarian sympathy. But these fellows, who continuously preached about transparency and truth in the media, should not divert from the issue. If they really believed in what they preached, they must say “Yes” or “No” to the allegations. They should not hide facts and make a shame of the whole media sector. -
Will Oli get time to implement its policies and programmes?
By Our Reporter , The government, that had almost collapsed last week, has unveiled its policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2016/17 on Sunday.
President Bidya Devi Bhandari presented the government document at the Legislature Parliament. The President spent one and a half hours to read out the document as it is the longest policies and programmes ever presented in Nepal’s parliament.
The documents include some ambitious programmes as well as regular ones with key focus on attaining prosperity in the next five years and graduate the nation to the list of developing countries from the least developed ones. Implementation of the new constitution, rebuilding the structures damaged by the devastating earthquake of April 2015, infrastructure development, harnessing of hydropower and creation of jobs for youth are other main objectives included in the annual documents.
The government has included the ‘Make your village yourself (Aafno Gaun Afai Banau)” programme, which the minority UML government led by late Manamohan Adhikari had included for the first time in 1995, in the new documents. Likewise, the document stressed the need for revising the social security allowance which was first introduced also by the UML minority government in 1995.
The government has also committed to holding the elections of the local bodies by mid-December this year. Likewise, it has plans to build at least one international airport each in all seven provinces and a helipad in each Village Development Committee, a civil hospital in each province, build storage for petroleum products to meet the 90-day demand in each province.
Similarly, the document claims to supply power as per the demands within two years, build the Kathamndu-Nijgadh fast track on government fund and complete the construction of Pokhara and Gautam Buddha International Airports in two years are other programmes included in the annual programme.
Obviously, the policies and programmes look ambitious and popular and it will be challenging to implement them. For example, the policies and programmes included producing 10000MW power in ten years, which looks impossible considering that Nepal managed to produce only 700 MW power in 100 plus years. The document has also stressed implementation of the agreements reached with China.
As usual, the document has received mixed reactions with the Madhes-based parties terming it futile while NC leaders have told that the policies and programmes could not be implemented. Moreover, the leaders of Madhes-based parties have claimed that the document was presented by the government that had already lost the trust of the people.
In fact, the government presented the documents a few days after it avoided its fall.
Last week, the government almost collapsed after the UCPN-Maoist decided to form a new government under Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the support of Nepali Congress. But the plan to replace the government got foiled when UCPN-Maoist chief Dahal gave up the idea of leading a new government for no apparent reason. As such, the government looks fragile because it can collapse at any moment if Dahal wants to become the new prime minister, so the fate of the document looks uncertain. -
Will Dahal be the next PM?
By Our Political Analyst – Considering the ongoing political developments in the country, it seems, the present KP Sharma Oli led government will face a crisis soon. In this context, again, UCPNM chair Pushpakamal Dahal can be rewarded and be the new prime minister of this country.
Nepali Congress has already developed the strategy to topple-down the present coalition government led by UML chair KP Sharma Oli. NC is preparing to disturb the government from presenting the budget for the next fiscal year. Furthermore, to fail the government, NC has decided to intensify its protest campaign against the government on the allegation that the government has failed to provide relief support to the earthquake victims and also to start the reconstruction works of the quake demolished structures. Although NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba has not opened his mouth, senior NC leaders in the Deuba camp have already remarked that the government has already failed and NC should take a leading role to form a new coalition government. Understandably, the NC leaders are in a hurry to become ministers in the new government.
Meanwhile, the Lainchour Durwar is calculating on political equation for the next government. Our southern neighbour believes that the KP Oli led government having DPMs such as Chitra Bahadur KC, CP Mainali, is contributing for intensifying anti-Indian sentiment. The Lainchour Durwar is seriously concerned on intensifying of the anti-Indian sentiment among the Nepali people.
Furthermore, Delhi has reached to a conclusion that the KP Oli led government will not address the Madheshi agendas. Therefore, Delhi wants to change the government. The recent visit of NC president Sher Bahadur Deuba to Delhi and his official and unofficial meetings with the Indian leaders are also related to the change of the government, say observers.
Earlier, Delhi was waiting for the NC’s national convention. Sources close to Delhi were saying that after the NC’s national convention, Delhi will initiate the game to change the government. Now, after the NC’s national convention, as per the Indian schedule, efforts for changing the government have taken place.
Technically the Oli led coalition government bags support of 335 MPs in the Parliament, including 83 MPs from UCPNM. If UCPNM will take back its support from the government, in that case, Oli will face crisis.
At present, the total strength of the parties in opposition, including the NC and tarai based parties is 239 only. If the UCPNM will join the new alliance, there will be the strength of 322, very close to a comfortable majority. If some small parties in the present government will also shift their support to the new alliance, very easily it will secure a comfortable majority. Therefore, the future of the Oli led government depends on the UCPNM.
Daha’s mood:
If Pushpakamal Dahal will get the opportunity to lead the next coalition government, he may shift camp. Dahal has wished to become the PM for one year or say until conducting the local level and provincial elections. After conducting local level and provincial elections, he is ready to handover the power to the NC government, which will hold the central level elections.
According to sources, Dahal was heard saying to his confidantes in the party that further continuing support to the Oli government will be an act of irritating India. Therefore, he is not in a mood to take further risk on his political future by making angry India. However, he has put the condition that he should get the opportunity to hold the local level and provincial level elections. If this condition is fulfilled, he is ready to join the anti-Oli alliance by taking back the party support to Oli.
Dahal believes that Oli has neglected the demands of the Tarai-Madhesh parties. Without addressing the demands of the Tarai centric parties, the constitution cannot be implemented, Dahal has understood, say UCPNM leaders.
Furthermore, Dahal has become suspicious from the act of Oli, as he has not become serious on implementation of the peace process by dismissing the cases filed in the courts regarding the Maoists’ “people’s war” era. Many of the Maoist leaders are facing threats from the court on different charges that were made during the “people’s war” time.
In the recent past, the supreme leaders of five Maoist parties, who were together during the “people’s war” period, held a joint meeting and expressed serious concern on the government attitude. The Maoist parties are demanding to send all the court cases to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Dahal has started to say to his confidantes that Oli has started to work by sidelining him, from which, he is unhappy with Oli. Dahal therefore is preparing grounds to quit the alliance with Oli.
When UCPNM standing committee leader Gopal Kirati called a press conference and expressed the view that the party should quit the government immediately, Dahal, UCPNM chair, didn’t ask any clarification to him on the charge of speaking against the party-line. From this also, one can understand the mood of Dahal.
Although, Dahal is not a trustworthy and faithful candidate of Delhi, there is no better option except from using Dahal for the time being to topple down the Oli-led government. On the other hand, Dahal, who made many attempts to become India’s man, on which, he has failed in the past, he will get an opportunity to please the Delhiwhallas and enjoy the PM’s post as well.
Deuba is a strong candidate for the next PM, but he is not in a hurry. Deuba believes that the Tarai centric parties’ demands should be fulfilled but not at the time when he is the PM. He wants somebody else to fulfill the demands of the Tarai-centric parties.
Likewise, the Madheshi parties in agitation are also of the view of toppling down this government as soon as possible. For this cause, they are ready to accept any of the alternates. Accordingly, Madhav Nepal faction in the UML is also against the continuation of this coalition government.