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The April 21 attacks in Sri Lanka, which has killed at least 359 people as of this writing, was a brutal reminder, if we needed any, that terrorism knows no bounds. The Islamic State has claimed responsibility. Unconfirmed reports suggest the suicide attacks targeting the Christian community and foreign tourists in Sri Lanka were in ‘retaliation’ for the March 15 killings of 50 Muslims in Christchurch, New Zealand. Whatever the case, there can now be little doubt that religious terrorism has become a global menace—and no country can claim to be immune from it.

Why did the Islamic State choose Sri Lanka—a rela­tively poor country that is not involved in any anti-Mus­lim mission anywhere in the world—to target Chris­tians, who make up under 8 percent of the Lankan population? Most likely because of its weak security. The small island state could not forestall the suicide bombings even though Indian intelligence agencies had given them ample prior warnings. Perhaps the Sri Lankan authorities felt that in the post-LTTE era they had nothing to fear from terrorists of any kind.

Nepal’s own security status is fragile, what with the open border and various semi-political armed groups operating in the country. An act of international terror­ism here is not inconceivable.

During the third SAARC Summit in Kathmandu in 1987, member states had signed the ‘Regional Conven­tion on Suppression of Terrorism’. Yet there has been little progress in advancing such cooperation, as was made clear by the Lankan bombings. With the SAARC now in a coma, there is little hope of progress. This is dangerous. In this interconnected world, no single country can control the scourge of terrorism on its own, as terror groups use increasingly sophisticat­ed ways to maximize death and destruction. Great­er regional cooperation on terrorism has therefore become mandatory. (Perhaps the BIMSTEC provides a better way forward.) Nepal must also strengthen its anti-terror resolve. The 2016 National Security Policy had listed ‘prevention and control of terrorism’ as one of Nepal’s strategic objectives. The public deserves to know if there has been any progress on this front.

There are other risks of taking terrorism lightly. On the pretext of controlling anti-terror activities, big powers may try to muscle their way in. Terror groups may also foment unrest by trying to divide the recently declared secular state along religious lines. April 21 was a wake-up call. It’s a terrible tragedy that so many of our fellow South Asians had to die for it.

 By Shambhu Yadav | Siraha / Raj Karan Mahato | Mahottari

  Dukhani Sadaya from Lahan municipality in the district of Siraha is now 65, an age when she becomes eligible for social security allowance. But she is still struggling to get a citizenship certificate, which is a prerequisite to apply for government services. Her son Rajkumar Sadaya, 35, and daughter-in-law Anita Sadaya, 32, do not have citizenship certificates either. In fact, no one from the Sadaya family has a citizenship card.

Dukhani’s husband Banhu Sadaya, who passed away last year, had knocked on the doors of government offices numerous times to get a citi­zenship card, but all in vain. Banhu’s father Munar had also faced similar problems, which means the family has been deprived of government ser­vices for three generations.

 No one from the Sadaya family has a citizenship card

Rajkumar has one daugh­ter, Bhagwati, and two sons, Rakesh and Mukesh. When Rajkumar applied for birth certificates for Bhagwati and Rakesh, the erstwhile Village Development Committee (VDC) did not demand their parents’ citizenship certifi­cates. But the authorities asked for those certificates when Rajkumar applied for a birth certificate for his young­est son Mukesh. Because Mukesh’s parents did not have citizenship cards, he could not get a birth certificate.

Mukesh attends the village’s primary school, but he is not formally enrolled as he does not have a birth certificate. Says Rajkumar, “Even though we have visited various gov­ernment offices, nothing has come of it. My forefathers could not get citizenship cards, so we are facing difficul­ties now. The government pol­icies make us feel stateless.”

Rajkumar works as a man­ual laborer in the construc­tion business. Although he dreams of building his own house with his hard-earned money, it looks unlikely, both because he lacks a citizenship certificate and because what he makes barely covers his household expenses.

In contrast, Kisani Sadaya and Khajani Sadaya from another ward in Lahan munic­ipality received their citizen­ship certificates in 2006. But because their husbands do not have citizenship cards, their sons could not get birth cer­tificates. As such, they cannot enroll in a school.

Traditionally, members of the Musahar community worked for local landlords, and getting citizenship cards was never an important con­sideration for them.

“Nobody made them aware about the significance of get­ting citizenship certificates, so they are facing problems now,” says rights activist Binod Bisuke. He suggests the government carry out a sur­vey of the Musahars and issue citizenship certificates to bona fide citizens.

Chief District Officer Rudra Prasad Pandit says that if anyone presents a document proving that their family has lived in Nepal for three gener­ations, it can be used to sup­port their case for acquiring a citizenship certificate.

On the other hand, 23-year-old Manjaya Sadaya from the district of Mahottari is happy to finally receive his citizen­ship certificate after struggling to obtain it for six years. “Now I will try to get a government job,” he says elatedly. Earlier, he could not enjoy govern­ment services, open a bank account, vote in elections or avail himself of scholarship opportunities because he did not have a card to prove his citizenship.

     Q. What is an opinion you hold that most people would dis­agree with?

A. The only thing you should care about is yourself.

Q. What do you like the most about your fans?

A. Love and support that they give in every step of my journey.

Q. If you had only one day left to live, what would you do?

A. I would organize a big party and invite EVERYONE.

Q. Your alternate career choice?

A. A singer.

Q. Did you always want to be an actor?

A. During my teenage years, I thought I would become a rockstar. Never had I ever imagined working in the film industry. But now I love it!

Q. Which actress would you like to work opposite?

A. Swastima Khadka, again.

Q. Your best and worst pur­chase?

A. Best purchase: Every building material I purchased to make my house. Worst purchase: The Bluetooth mic I bought online.

Q. What would you like to say to aspiring actors?

A. Work hard and have patience. Entering movie industry is not as easy as it seems but it will be worth it!

Q. Are you someone who likes to live in a happening city or its quiet outskirts?

A. I mostly like living in a city. It also depends on my mood though.

Join a poetry night In Kathmandu

Participate in the second session of the Poetry Night hosted by Tales from Palpasa, either as an audience or as a performer. Tales from Palpasa is an effort to encourage people to express themselves through poetry and storytelling. If you want to perform at the event, you can email your writings at [email protected], and they would get back to you with the details. The poetry sessions are scheduled for a Friday of every month until December 2019, at Mo: Mo La Palpasa Café. Check their FaceBook event page for detail!

Raft in Bhote Koshi

Hosting the steepest river run in Nepal, Bhote Koshi is just three-hour drive from Kathmandu. Get ready for some adrenaline rush while rafting in this river, for a great day trip. It is also possible to spend a night on the river camp. For your own protection, make sure you go with a guide. Contact EcoTrek at 4424112; the guides there have the skills to provide you with a safe and enjoyable trip, with instructions on paddling and picking out the safest route on the river. The best season to raft on Bhote Koshi is from September to May. Don’t miss out!

Participate in business training in Kathmandu

Empower Social Entrepreneurship Training Program from May 13-23 is inviting applications. The program will teach participants how to master essential skills for concept creation and business plan development of new services. Participants learn how to become social entrepreneurs in order to identify and solve community challenges that can be transformed into business opportunities, from concept to plan to execution. Top teams will have the opportunity to train and develop their ideas at Nepal School of Entrepreneurship. To apply, email [email protected]. Deadline is April 22. Hurry!

Hike in Pokhara

If you want to visit the Peace Pagoda, which was built to inspire world peace, and explore local villages around Phewa Lake, then this hike is for you! To get to the pagoda, after crossing the Phewa Lake on a boat you will have to climb for around two and half hours; the hike downhill will take an hour less. Enjoy sweeping views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, and Manaslu mountains, along with a bird’s-eye view of the Pokhara Valley and Phewa Lake.

“A normal day now begins with a schedule. Some chores, some talking, and ‘letting out’ sessions with professional treatment. It was very tough initially, the withdrawal phase: The sleepless nights, the craving, the detoxing and what not. My friends and family helped me a lot but they still have trust issues, which is natural. I have relapsed before. But I have been clean for a year now and I am looking forward to facing the world. I feel healthy.”

 Addiction doesn’t always last a lifetime. Many people recover, mostly on their own. Old habits die hard, and forming a new one can be challenging. What these residential rehabilitation centers do is build up a routine, a new habit. The intense program of support and care for the sufferers inside is aimed at creating for them a healthier community and an optimistic future.

 The recovery journeys are common, as all are essentially on the same boat. The vices may differ, but the acts of ‘cleaning up’ and ‘new beginnings’ are the same, as they together build up courage.

Michael Grills, as much as the name sounds foreign, is a joint where you can savor typical Nepali food. Located at Old Baneshwor on the lane next to the APEX College (one that goes towards Maitidevi), Michael Grills is mainly famous for its sekuwas (marinated barbecue meat).

 Given its low prices and delicious offerings, youngsters looking to grab a quiet bite, and maybe a chilled beer to go with it, are always to be found at Michael’s. It currently can seat around 50-60 customers. But as its customer base grows, it is thinking of expanding to a nearby location.

THE MENU

Chef’s Special:

- Sekuwa

- Jhol momo

- Biryani

Opening hours: 11 am-10 pm

Location: Old Baneshwor

Cards: Accepted

Meal for 2: Rs 800

Reservations: 9851151508

After stopovers in 80 locations spread over 40 countries, it’s here, finally. Between April 12-26, ‘The German Energiewende: Transforming Germany’s energy system’ exhibition is being showcased inside the premises of Information and Communication Technology Center, Pulchowk Campus.

 This traveling exhibition, organized by the German Embassy Kathmandu, illustrates the German economy’s transformation towards reusable energy sources, and hopes to foster dialogue about climate protection. Along with providing information about milestones achieved and the kind of challenges remaining for energy transition, the traveling exhibition wants to spread the word on working together on green energy throughout the world.

 The exhibition—inaugurated by Minister for Energy, Water Resource and Irrigation Barshaman Pun and German Ambassador H.E. Roland Schaefer—is not only limited to environment protection talks but is also about Nepal’s future in general and Nepal’s relationship with Germany. A photo story celebrating 60 years of German-Nepali friendship accompanies the exhibition. Nepali and German citizens express their personal views of each other’s country and how they feel connected through the displayed photos.

 The exhibition runs every day until April 26 from 10:30 am-4:30 pm.

The government’s reluctance to release the new National Security Policy (2019), endorsed by the cabinet on March 18, is both intriguing and troubling. The policy, consid­ered the country’s ‘second constitution’, is by nature a consensual document, prepared after extensive consultations with multiple stakeholders. But only a select few drafted the policy under the leadership of Defense Minister Ishwar Pokhrel, and without consul­tations with other important stakeholders, including the main opposition Nepali Congress. What does the government have to hide?

We can make a few educated guesses. Reported­ly, the document is rather political: the ruling party’s slogan of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’ finds repeated mention in it. Mixing partisan politics with national security is never wise. Second, the new policy apparently gives the Nepal Army a predominant role in national security, while undercutting the roles of other security organs. (Recently, the Oli government had also amended the National Security Act to give the prime minister the power to deploy the army under ‘special circumstances’.) The two police forces feel left out.

Third, the new policy reportedly mentions “block­ade” as a major security threat to Nepal, in reference to the 2015-16 Indian blockade. It is to be avoided at all cost, including perhaps by enhancing connectiv­ity with China. The fear is that India may not be too pleased with this mention. But these are lame excus­es for not consulting vital stakeholders and preparing such an important document on the sly.

The underhand manner in which the whole affair has unfolded does not befit a government with an overwhelming public mandate. The centralization of powers in the PMO and the army will be inimical to the health of the nascent federal republic. Such centraliza­tion will make provincial governments uneasy, and lend credence to the voices of those who believe the Oli government is on the path of authoritarianism. Its recent crackdown on press freedom and curtailment of civil liberties have been hardly assuring. To allay doubts about its intent, the government should imme­diately make the policy public and take it to the nation­al parliament for further discussions. The National Security Policy is not just the government’s policy but also a guiding charter that affects every section of the society. Nepalis deserve to know what is in it.