 C O V E RBest of Asia: Our annual guide to all that's best for your ... Best Place to Pitch Your Tent: Bhutan Best Hot Springs: Tidrum Nunnery, Tibet Discharging Firearms: Darra Adam Khel, Pakistan Best Garden: Ryoanji Temple Garden, Kyoto, Japan Best Spirit Encounter: Mount Popa, Burma Best Animal Encounter: Endangered Primate Rescue Center, Cuc Phuong, Vietnam Best Place to Blow Serious Cash: Dhoni Mighili, The Maldives Best Restored Treasure: Baltit Fort, Hunza Valley, Pakistan Best Sacred Tree: Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka Best Place to Dream of Stardom: Film City, Bombay, India Best Urban Refuge: Liu Xian Guan Teahouse, Beijing, China Best Literary Excursion: Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, India Best Mind Warp: Pyongyang, North Korea Theatre of the Silence: Hong Kong, China Extreme Yak Sports: Manali, India Best Airport Time Filler: Kantarat Golf Course, Bangkok, Thailand Best Oddball Museum: Meguro Parasitological Museum, Tokyo, Japan Best Place to See Old China: Lesser Three Gorges, Daning River, China Best Place to See New China: Three on the Bund, Shanghai, China Best Pools: InterContinental Hotel, Hong Kong, China Best Sporting Event: India vs. Pakistan Cricket Matches Best Tattoo Parlor: Horiyoshi III, Yokohama, Japan Best Spring Roll: Emperor, Hanoi, Vietnam Best Waterslide: Waitavala, Fiji Best Tailoring Bargains: Hoi An, Vietnam Best Gym with a View: Park Hyatt, Tokyo, Japan Best Skiing: The Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East Best Bar in the Middle of Nowhere: Le Jovial Jarai, Banlung, Cambodia Best View of a Minefield: Tamil Tiger Territory, Sri Lanka Personal Best: Famous Asians give us their top picks |
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Unions Celebrate May Day Collectively
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Photo: CKS- TKP |
Citing extreme position of violent conflict and aiming long term goal of trade union solidairty, workers of Nepal celebrated May Day 2005 collectively. With Theme; "Democracy for Peace & Development, Trade Union Rights for workers in all Profession" some 10,000 workers in Kathmandu Valley rally in major parts of the city. The May Day Joint Celebration Committee- 2005; which includes recognised National Centres- GEFONT, NTUC, DECONT (with their 59 plus affiliated national federations), a loose network of various professional - PAPAD (Professional Alliance for Peace and Democracy, which includes Federation of Nepalese Journalists, Nepal Bar Association, Nepal University Teachers Association, Teachers Union-Nepal, Nepal Engineers Association and Nepal Medical Association), Network of various employees associations- CoNEP (Confederation of Nepalese Professionals, which includes 2non-affiliated trade union federations; EI affiliated NNTA and government employees) and almost all Nepali Affiliates of GUFs (There are 37 Federation & unions) had led & coordinated the rally.
This year's May Day was widely supported by the international trade Union movement. The General Secretary of ICFTU-APRO N. Suzuki himself was one of the leading figures in the joint rally. The representatives from the Seven GUFs namely ICEM-HQ, (Elizabeth Cotton), TWARO-ITGLWF (Akiko Gono), IFBWW-South Asia (Rajeev Sharma), IMF-South Asia (T. Dyvadheenam), ITF-South Asia (Sangam Tripathi), PSI- South Asia (Kannan) and UNI (Andriana) were others international delegates in the rally.
The country director of ILO Ms. Leyla Tegmo- Reddy and senior workers specialist of ILO-SAAT Mr. Pong Sul Ahn were other participating dignitaries of the workers rally. Besides, two senior leaders from national trade union centres from India Bro. Guman Singh, the Organizing Secretary of INTUC and Dy General Secretary of HMS R A Mittal were also the participants.
May Day was also observed about 2 dozens major places in through out the country.
| > Solidarity Statement |
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GEFONT Protests South Korean Govt.
In a capacity of Former Minister for Labour, HMG-Nepal GEFONT Chairman Mukunda Neupane led a delegation-comprising Secretary General and Treasurer and paid an official visit to the Embassy of Republic of Korea in Kathmandu on November 26, 2003. Com. Neupane handover GEFONT's protest letter addressed to the President Roh Moo Hyun of Republic of Korea, Seoul to the His Excellency Ambassador in Nepal.
"It has come recently to our knowledge that several noticeable events are taking place in Korean Labour market within these periods of time. Sparked by the incident of self-immolation by Bae Dalho, a worker working in Doosan Heavy Industry (related to KCTU-KMWF) on January 9, 2003; similar unfortunate incidents have taken place on August, September and October of this year. We have been informed that precious life of six working people has been claimed already and some injured are still fighting for survival in the hospital beds and further Mr. Lee Haenam is in brink of death." Demanding immediate stop of all repressive actions against workers & their trade unions the letter further states- "it is in our information that recently your government has summoned warrant- order to the trade union leaders & activists involved in the workers rally of November 9 of this year including Mr. Dan Byung-ho, president of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU)."
The protest letter drew a long question mark on Korean government intention on migrant workers as well. "We have noticed that there is discrimination against the workers termed as "irregular" compared to those who are called as 'regular'. …The monthly average wage of 'irregular' workers is about half compared to that of 'regular'. "
In a capacity of a largest Trade Union Confederation in Nepal GEFONT firmly shows its support and solidarity towards struggling workers and unions, particularly the KCTU through the protest letter.
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Pokhara valley is the place of both Arayans and Mongolins. Most of the settlers that came from south and west were Aryans and the rest of them who came from the north were of Mongolian orgion. Before the arrival of Aryans the Pokhara valley had no human habitation. Aryans, migrated from India, were skillful cultivators. So the fertile places of Pokhara like Hyangja, Kundahar and Bindyabasini were occupied by them and brought under cultivation. However, they preferred to live in the hills for climatic reasons. They used to send the weaker section of their society like Damai, Kami and Sarki to look after their fields. So, it is believed that the low caste people were the first inhabitants of the flat plains of Pokhara. The Muslim community also claims that they were the first settlers of Pokhara. In the 17th century, Pokhara was ruled as a part of Kaskikot, one of the most powerful of Chaubise Kingdoms in central Nepal. Before the rise of the Shah kings there are no reliable historical accounts.
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PEOPLE OF POKHARA
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OCCUPATION
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CULTURE AND TRADITION
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Brahmin and Kshetri Community
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Gurung Community
The traditional costume for the women is maroon velvet blouse and large cloth which is fastened over their one shoulder, a wrap-round skirt and many yards of narrower cloth wrapped around their waist. Their ornaments include gold and coral necklaces which represent the prosperity of their family. Gold ear and nose rings are given to woman at the time of marriage. Money, keys and various useful things are wrapped into the waist cloth. A cotton cloth is usually tied round the head. Males wear a short tied across the front and a short skirt of several yards of white cotton material wrapped around the waist and held by a broad belt. Gurungs are broadly classified into two groups, viz. four clans and sixteen clans. Four clans are considered superior to the sixteen clans. In Gurung community, boys and girls are free to make self choice of marriage partners. However, traditionally, cross-counsin marriage both of paternal and maternal lineage is widely practiced. The Gurungs have a very interesting dance tradtion. Two dances namely Ghatu and Shorathi are most popular. Rodi is another interesting Gurung institution. This is a club for boys and girls, of more or less of the same age-usually ten or eleven, under the supervision of an adult. Rodi also serves as a work association where various activities are planned for co-operative working. The most important festival of Gurung is Lhosar which is observed in the end of December. Both cremation and burial practice of disposing dead bodies are prevalent in Gurung communities. Sometimes in the memory of dead person resting places (Chautara) are constructed.
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Thakali Community Previously the profession of the Thakali was salt trade form tibet. But nowadays they are involved in different business in the major cities of Nepal and have proved themselves to be successful entrepreneurs. Thakali marriage custom is distinctive. They practice cross-cousin marriage of both maternal and parental lineage. The traditional marriage system is very interesting. The friends and close relatives of the boy set out for evening walk and capture the girl to be married. Then she is kept under the strict guardianship until her parents agree. But their traditions are rapidly changing and many Thakalis do not prefer traditional marriage. The most significant festival is "Ihafeva" which is observed in November of every monkey year of the twelve year cycle according the Tibetan calendar. Many Thak people are attracted By Pokhara but Thak Khola is still considered the homeland of Thakalis. There are fewer Thakalis in Pokhara in comparison to others but their influence in trade and business is high.
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Newar Community They have their own language and very rich tradtion. Their caste group ranges from lowest group of sweepers to the highest group of priests. They follow Buddhism as well as Hinduism.
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Magar Community
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Muslim Community
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Gaine Community
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Tibetan Community |
paradise pokhara situated in the central nepal in nestled in a region of a natural beauty.the valley in filled with lush... vegelation swift flowing riversand dotted with shimmering lakes.it is one of the major town of nepal.pokharais blessedwith the backtopof one of the sceneries in the world.a 140 km of panorama made up of towering himlayan an close enough to be touched on a clear day.
FISHTAIL PEACK IN CLOSE LENCH
BARAHI TEMPLE
BACK SIDE FROM FISHTAIL PEACK
NEAR POKHARA CITY HIMALAYAN RANGE
NEAR POKHARA CULTURAL PROGRAMM
PHEWA LAKE SIDE
PHEWA LAKE AND FISHTAIL VIEW
MOUNT BIKE TRIPE NEAR SARANGKOT 
BAHAHI TEMPLE BACK SIDE VIEW
FISH TAIL VIEW 
POKARA CITY VIEW 
FISH TAIL AND LALU PATAE FLOWER
POKHARA VIEW FROM FAR
Phewa Lake: Death is only some 150 years away (Nepalnews special)
Once an area of high pristine beauty, top on anyone’s list of Nepal’s most idyllic and tranquil spots, Phewa lake today wears a grim look. Once in its unspoiled form, the haunt of poets and lakeside dreamers who saw the best things in man’s relationships with nature mirrored on the lake’s surface, just as the lake’s once ice clear surface eloquently mirrored the snow capped peak of Mt. Machhapuchhre (the metaphor for Fishtailed).
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Serene beauty: Phewa lake is a major tourist attraction in the western town of Pokhara. (File photo) | |
It spurred one of Nepal’s great poets, Bhupi Sherchan, to see the same reflection as the mountain lifting its Dhaka Topi in salute to the lovely lake. Unblemished, flawless, immaculate in its simple evocation of the beauty of nature, it was enough just to stand by its shores to calm the waters of the heart. But it seems like a lifetime ago. Over the years, this lakeside resort in western Nepal has taken a turn for the worse.
With its lovely lakes, cool hidden caves, fine looking flora and fauna, and mighty mountains in the backdrop, Pokhara valley stands as one of the most picturesque sites of Nepal. A place of remarkable natural beauty, the valley offers splendid views of the Annapurna Himalaya range. In fact, the combination of lovely lakes in the valley’s heart- and some of the highest mountains on earth in the backdrop- make the city excel in natural beauty.
Out of the three lakes that enhance the resplendence of the valley, the largest and the most enchanting one- Phewa lake, which is also the second largest lake in the kingdom, is the center of all attractions in the valley. Situated in the heart of picturesque Pokhara valley, the lake with the temple of Tal Barahi (popular amongst tourists as the island temple) in the middle, nicely reserved woods on the adjoining southern slope (Raniban), and serene water reflecting the Annapurna Range has indeed been a source of attraction for the visiting tourists from around the globe. It is, indeed, the Phewa lake that has transformed the lakeside area into a hot tourist hub. A whole slew of hotels and restaurants have opened up around the lakeside area. Thus the lake is, directly or indirectly, the means of subsistence for thousands including hundreds of boatmen, who ferry the tourists.
But sadly, this lovely lake has fallen a victim of unplanned urbanization, pollution, eutrophication, siltation and sedimentation, among others. As a result, not only the once legendary beauty of the lake but also its very existence is being threatened.
For the last few years, pollution in the lake has increased beyond measure. The result is: the beauty of this great lake, which once sang in full melody for its serene and clean water, is deteriorating day by day. The lake has very much helped the lakeside area develop into a tourist hub but the irony is that the city residents, mainly those of the lakeside area churn out the domestic waste and garbage through the sewerage that ends in the lake, slowly killing it. Hotel entrepreneurs, too, allow polluted water from their premises to flow into lake.
In a bid to maintain the healthy environment of the city, an environment promotion project under the Pokhara sub-metropolis had built the sewerage with an assistance of Rs.40 million from the Asian Development Bank. "But people connected the outlets of their domestic liquid waste to the sewerage system which was built to channel the rainwater into the lake," says Ramesh Bahadur Bhattarai, president of Phewa Lake Conservation Project. He adds, “The plan to link the sewerage system to the lake was flawed and we had protested against it. But they said the sewerage was made to control the flood in monsoon. But today you can see it has only polluted the lake”.
“If the sub- metropolis, the responsible body, itself gets engaged in contaminating the lake, what more tragedy is likely to befall the city?” he asks.
The Phirke and Bulaudi streams and the Seti canal, too, end up in the lake. But before ending in the lake, they collect all the city’s garbage, sullage, sewerage, and wastages of all kinds. "Apart from this, some hoteliers and restaurateurs still dispose the overflow of their septic tanks into the lake at night," says Mangal Nepali, president of Pokhara Community Service, a community-based group.
Sedimentation and siltation are other major problems that have threatened the lake's existence. In fact, the lake has already lost a huge chunk of its surface area due to sedimentation, siltation and encroachment. Old-timers in Pokhara recall that the lake was much bigger some half a century ago. Haram Jalari, 75, a fisherman recalls, “50 years back, the lake was up to Pame, but now half of that has changed into fields. My grand children don’t believe when I tell them this fact.”
Agrees Dr Devendra Bahadur Lamichhane, who has carried out a research on the lake. "The lake's surface area was 10 sq. km in 1956 but coming to 1995, it had shrunk to 4.5 sq. km. The topological maps taken in 1957-58 and even the aerial photographs taken by Airmap, an Italian company, in 1971 reveal that the lake was much bigger,” he adds.
The lake is being sedimented in the west from the eroded debris of the Harpan river- the source of the lake- and its tributaries. In fact, the Harpan river becomes the sorrow of the Phewa Lake in every rainy season. Dr Lamichhane says, "More than 1.7 million metric ton of sediment is deposited in the lake by the transportation of Harpan and its tributaries every year. Assuming the current rate of sedimentation and pollution, the death of this great lake is only some 150 years away."
Despite various workshops, seminars and projects designed especially for the preservation of the lake, there seems very little gain and the lake is fast approaching its death. The local residents also seem indifferent to the deteriorating state of the lake and are rather involved in its pollution. They are busy in washing their clothes while their cattle are bathing frequently in the lake. Only a planned government intervention in time can save the lake. Dr Lamichane remarks, “The lake has already crossed the mesotrophic stage and is in the ongoing stage of eutrophication. Unless the people of this area together with the local, regional, and national administrators are aware of the lake’s situation, it will be virtually contracted to reach the dystrophic stage. It will be eventually converted into terra firma”.
political activists belonging to cpn uml took out a torch light protest really against the government in kathmandu 2005/may /2
seven major oppsition party cadres in a really demanding full democracy and restoration of peace in the country sunday 2005/may/22 in capital kathmandu.
marching seven oppsition party in really may 22 in kathmandu .
Sushil Koirala, two-dozen others released
Authorities have freed Nepali Congress (NC) general secretary Sushil Koirala and two-dozen other politicians and student leaders.
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(NC) general secretary Sushil Koirala | |
Koirala who had been facing custody for over three months was released from Nepalganj Thursday along with former minister and NC leader Shiv Raj Joshi, National Assembly member and NC leader Tilak KC and five others, according to the Home Ministry.
Likewise, five political detainees were released in Doti and one in Kanchanpur today.
Meanwhile, following Wednesday’s Supreme Court order, the government today released a dozen student leaders including Pradeep Poudel of the NC-affiliated Nepal Students Union (NSU), Thakur Gaire, leader of CPN (UML) student wing, All Nepal National Free Students Union, and former NSU general secretary Chandra Bhandari from various places in Kathmandu.
nepalnews.com mbk May 26
studentbelonging to nepal student union in a protest really in kathmandu demanding the restoration of democracy thursday may 26
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We are in touch with int’l powers: Dr. Bhattarai Senior Maoist leader, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, has said his party is in contact with India and other international powers. In an exclusive interview with the BBC Nepali Service Monday, Dr. Bhattarai—who has been in the news for the past couple of weeks for leading a Maoist delegation to meet Indian leaders in New Delhi—said his party was in touch with India and other international powers. He did not elaborate.
He said his party was also in touch with the alliance of seven political parties that is waging a peaceful movement against the royal takeover of February 1. He said there has been some progress with respect to moving towards what he said ‘democratic republicanism.’ When asked if his party was also in touch with the royal palace now, Bhattarai said his party did not see any rationale in holding dialogue with the King after the February 1 move. Referring to his party’s demand for elections to the constituent assembly and reported agreement with the government to limit the Royal Nepalese Army within five kms of the barrack (that was reportedly reached during the failed peace talks more than two years ago), Bhattarai even alleged that the palace had betrayed the Maoists time and again. Responding to allegations made by his own party’s chairman, Prachanda, that he was pro-Indian, Bhattarai said the Maoist supremo had `corrected’ his statement saying that it was too old and had been proved as a mistake. “I haven’t accused him as being pro-palace,” he said. BBC Nepali Service said details of the interview with Dr. Baburam Bhattarai would be aired during its regular transmissions Monday evening. Dr. Bhattarai recently made headlines amid reports in Indian media that Indian intelligence agencies were facilitating his meeting with Indian leaders, including general secretary of CPI (Marxist), Prakash Karat, in New Delhi. Both Bhattarai and Karat refuted such reports. nepalnews.com by May 30 05 Related News
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Police intervene Maoist victims’ protest, dozens arrested
Over 50 Maoist victims were arrested from a protest program in Kathmandu Monday, the Maoist Victim Association (MVA) said. According to the MVA spokesperson Bhojraj Timilsina, the protesters have been detained in various police stations in Kathmandu. They had participated in the Singha Durbar 'gherao' this morning. Singha Durbar houses Prime Minister’s Office and other ministries. Demanding that the government recognize them as internal refugees and ensure their resettlement, the Maoist victims have been in regular protests since the last two months. The MVA has alleged the government failed to meet its commitments made in the past. There are over 27,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) of which 5,000 from various districts in the country are taking refuge in the capital city, the MVA said. nepalnews.com pd May 31 05 | ||||||
Maoist chairman calls upon opposition parties to appoint a `negotiating team’ (2:20 pm)
In what is seen as an indication of upcoming polarization in the Nepali politics, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal, Prachanda, has called upon the alliance of seven opposition parties—that are protesting the Feb. 1 royal takeover—to appoint an official “negotiating team” to hold dialogue with his party on “all political issues.”
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Chairman of CPN (Maoist) Prachanda (File Photo) | |
In a statement issued on Monday, Prachanda termed recent statements by Nepali Congress president and former premier, G P Koirala-- that he would hold dialogue with his party-- as “very positive.” He said his party was ready to collaborate with all political parties that were against ‘authoritarianism’ in order to make the movement powerful and united.
Prachanda said that the directives issued by his party to all its cadres not to target activists of the seven party alliance was being enforced strictly, save some ‘accidents.’ He called upon the parties to come forward by constituting an official `negotiation team’ in order to create a massive people pressure for a democratic way out. He did not elaborate.
“A strong basis of confidence could be prepared by holding dialogue with such a negotiation team by organizing serious discussions on the whole gamut of political issues,” he added.
The major Maoist demands include a round table conference, interim government, and elections to the constituent assembly to draft a new constitution. They have, however, kept mum on one of the major demands of seven party alliance for the reinstatement of the dissolved parliament.
In its common agenda, the seven party alliance said it was ready to go up to (elections for the) constituent assembly as a way out to the present political impasse. They have, however, ruled out collaboration with the CPN (Maoist) unless the latter gives up violence.
Interestingly, in his statement, Maoist chairman Prachanda said his party was ready to hold dialogue with anyone around the world including the United Nations in favour of what he called Nepali people’s aspirations for democracy, peace and progress.
Prachanda’s statement has come at a time when Lakhdar Brahimi, special advisor to the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, is currently in Nepal.
The UN has been saying that it is ready to make available its good offices for the peaceful resolution of the Nepal conflict provided both the parties in the conflict ask it to do so.
While the Maoists have said they are ready to accept UN involvement, successive Nepali governments have rejected the offer saying that “they are capable to resolve the issue internally.”
Critics say the present government is pursuing military means to defeat the insurgents.
International community, including the US, UK and India, have said military solution to the Nepal conflict is not possible. They have also suspended their “lethal” military aid to Nepal in the aftermath of the Feb. 1 royal takeover. nepalnews.com by July 11 05
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Chairman of CPN (Maoist) Prachanda (File Photo) | |
<영상 수록 내용>
문화노동자 연영석 님
닉네임은 '게으른 피'
오랜 시간 연대해 온 이주노동자 사이에선 '간절히' 로 더 잘 통하는
연영석 님의 4월 4일(월) 모처럼의 콘서트를 함께 다시 감상합니다.
녹화했던 모든 내용을 차차 공개해 드리고, 요약분 영상 '코리안 드림'을
보십니다.
연영석 님 공연장에는 투쟁현장을 함께 한 만큼
어렵사리 투쟁 중인 비정규직, 해고 노동자부터
한국 땅에서 가장 차별받는 이주노동자, 장애인도 함께 했고
음악관계자 그리고 연영석 님 매니어까지 다양한 사람들이 함께 했습니다.
음악을 하는 사람으로서 처음으로 밴드와 함께 한 공연은
행복한 공연이며, 투쟁현장 함께 했던 동지들이 관객이기에
더욱 행복한 공연이었음을 공연자와 관람자가 공통으로 느낀
소중한 순간입니다.
They have their own language and their cultural practices are still existing. The Gurungs live in small round, oval or rectangular houses which are clustered to form a single village. The upper section of their house is white washed and the lower part is red plastered. 
hundred Thak but nowadays they have increased in number and have spread much further. Thakalis have regular feature of Mongolian with round face, flat nose, high cheekbones, narrow eyes and yellow skin pigments. They speak their own language which belongs to the Tibeto-Burmese family. 
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라주동지. 앞으로 글을 자주 올리신다니 저도 자주 들어와볼께요. 제가 네팔말이나 영어로 글을 쓰면 동지가 직접 읽을 수 있을텐데, 저는 둘다 너무 어렵네요. 다른 동지가 대신 읽어주시리라 믿고... ^^ 어제 집회에서 마숨동지와는 인사를 나누었는데, 이주동지들 앉아있는 곳까지 갔다가 사람이 너무 많아서 일일이 찾아보지 못했네요. 건강하시고, 항상 팔딱팔딱 살아숨쉬는 투쟁 속에서 또 만나요!부가 정보
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라주 오빠. 이거 오빠 블로그 맞죠? 토요일날 술 이빠이 먹고도 일요일날 집회 일찍 오셨대요! ^^ 또 술 마시러 갈게요. 헤헤.부가 정보