Dear all, This is what we are dealing with in Nepal these days. FYI. - http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/2008/11/22/125 oohi ashu

मेरो बिचारमा मुख्य मुद्दा हिमाल मिडियाको हैन, राजनीतिका ठेकेदारहरुको हो। उनीहरुको सोच अनि कार्यप्रणालीको हो। श्रम मन्त्रालयले ठालु ठेकेदारहरु समक्ष घुँडा टेक्यो भने आश्चर्य मान्नु पर्ने छैन। दुर्भाग्यको कुरा हो। संचार जगतको एउटा माध्यम जस्को कुरा सुन्ने लाखौं छन, त्यो माध्यमको बिबसता हामीले देख्छम भने ती लाखौं ब्यक्ति जस्को पहुँच त्रास, गरीबी र उत्पिडन जस्ता कठोर द्वारपालहरुले बन्दी बनाएका छन, उनीहरुको के हालत होला?

Prachanda et al, after their recent tours to India and America, in my opinion, have been liberalized to some extent ideologically. Him and few other top brasses of the party seem to understand that the advancement of a communst republic agenda is no longer a fruitful business. As expected, we all saw the ideological clash brewing in the party who still dream of a commnist paradise in nepal. As long as those elements remain that are willing to advance their agenda by hook or by crook, more of these threats will surface in the coming days. I just hope Ashu dai and all of us who think freedom cannot be compromised, continue to advance the agenda. Its an ideological war . As Gunyucholi said, the enemy is unethical yet I believe defeatable.

Good luck to Ashu dai and all who have held their ground.

Thank you all for your thoughts and wishes.

Today's (Sat.) Kantipur daily reports that more than 50 companies in Hetauda have been shut down due to the activities of Krantikari Labour Unions.

Let's hope that better judgment prevails at the Labour Ministry (श्रम मन्त्रालय) in HM's case.

Here's a contextual update:

  http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/issue/2008/11/29/StrictlyBusiness/15420

oohi

ashu

 

I thought, King Gyanendra Regime was terrible. I thought he was a dictator and destroyed peace. I thought Media was tormented during his regime. I think this present situation is best deserved for Nepal. Good luck,

UPDATE:

EVENT:After dithering for a few days, the Labour Office (Sram Karyalaya at Teku) has given a formal certificate of recognition to the Maoist Union, despite there being -- as stated earlier --inadequate (as per the law) support for the formation of such a Union at HM.

BACKGROUND: With the Labour Ministry under a Maoist minister, and having observed how Maoist Unions have muscled their way into many companies  (including private banks) in Nepal by using all sorts of political pressure, this Labour Office decision was NOT exactly unanticipated.

MOVING AHEAD: In theory, we can take the Labour Office to court for having violated the Trade Union laws of Nepal to score a political point.

But, in practice, with every administrative entity and corporate machinery in Nepal under definite Maoist grip and control in a step-by-step manner, the task of making an honest and legally valid living in Nepal is getting very, very difficult.

Then again, to borrow a phrase from Winston Churchill, one must "keep buggering on" in these times in our payro matri.bhoomi (who, alas, seems to have stopped loving back her children, no matter how intensely they love her!)   

oohi

ashu 

 

 

 

Hi ashu,

I got in my email who is circulating this kind of BS

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Hi dd_sh,

I also received that email in my inbox yesterday.

There is no such thing as Media Workers' Alliance. In these cyber-times, anyone can set up a gmail account, in any name, and start spreading malice against those one does not like.

What more can I say, except to declare that this is a brazen yet anonymous attempt at charitra hatya or character assassination of the named two individuals. This is indeed sad.

That said, since I tend to see the best in other people, I trust that all reasonable readers who look at all sides of an issue will see the content of that email for what it is (i.e. rubbish), and leave it at that.

Finally, every problem presents its own opportunity.

As such, I am happy to note that, at the company, all these Maoist Union-related disturbances have helped strengthen the sense of organisational solidarity between all editorial and non-editorial staff against these types of cyber/physical/telephonic/emotional/psychological/political attacks from the outside.

oohi

ashu

 

Ashu dai sad to hear about the state of Nepali politics thesedays. Coming from a positive person like you, it's devastating to hear such news first hand.

And if that circulating email is nothing but propaganda is Himal media going to point it out to general population before people start to believe in such propaganda?

I think such accusations need to be defended less the people believe it for lack of defense.

I do not have any sympathy to partisan unionism, be it students’ union, teachers’ union or labor union. Unions should be non-partisan and should purely represent itself and nobody else.

 

In a democratic society, everybody is free indeed to have political life, but such life should be outside the professional life. This is a very basic premise that, to our misfortune, never took root in Nepal and is responsible for evergreen corrupt politics, anarchy and everything they give rise to. Or so I view.

 

Purely professional and responsible unionism at work place and a political understanding and consensus at political level that a rapid economic growth is an overriding need of our pyaro garib desh Nepal is what we need and what we must have.

 

The bigger the size of the pie, the bigger the size of a slice. This should be our mantra.

 

And based on the international experiences, I think a somewhat subdued or at least un-radical unionism is what looks compatible with the economic growth systems that we have in this era and civilization of mankind.

 

So reject radicalism, shun partisanism, demand professional and responsible unionism, promote the rule of law, long and sacrifice for economic growth of the country, ignore negativism, think positively, do small small things patiently and resiliently are what seems to be everyone’s duty at this point.

 

So I am with Ashu and his fight for his business, professionalism and principles. I would just caution that he should not let it appear that he is fighting against this or that party or ideology. He should make it absolutely clear that he is fighting for justice, principles and pure professional sense. Every sensible person will be behind him and his effort.

 

I would strongly suggest that the case should now be taken to the court. No matter what, it will serve the cause. At least the case will be on the record and we will know how our justice system really is. This will be one hell of a show-case and an useful call for all reform longing and reformist people.

 

Nepe

 

P.S. Just to let all know that I have been privately communicating with Ashu and supporting him all along.

 

Here we go again. Mr. Communist Sypathizer NEPE MAHARAAAJ is communicating with Ashu rey ? ha ha ha

Afai Bokshiii AFai Jhankrii ? ha ha ha The case should be taken to court ? ha ha ha ha BY WHOM ? YOU ? ITS NOT AS EASY AS YOU AND YOUR MORONIC FRENS CHANTING GYANEY CHOR DESH CHOOD IN FRONT OF THE UN BUILDING.

Ashu is just a drop in the ocean, there are hunreds of other cases like this. YOU AND YOUR GHANTAAATANTRA FRENS ARE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MOB GOVT.

communicating ???????????????????????/   
supporting ?????????????????????????????
supporting HIM?????????????????????????

kunni.?

Maoist ministers are (probably) encouraged / forced to decide in favor of those ill-intended people, whom Ashu dai has already exposed to us as the killer-virus in the HM organization. Those, whoever wants to see the rule of law in Nepal are undoubtably against such ill-intended action and are standing for HM in this case. Some have expressed it on Sajha, and some others might have done elsewhere. However, I am not clear yet how would such sympathy or online-support change the situation. We all know that the problem was created by maoist goons for their political interest. They are playing with such a low level tactics everywhere, see what happened to cable car, and other dozens of industries, casinos, etc. etc.. I have heard from a friend that the maoists are trying to capture every sector of society. The problem is spreading so wide that even the religious organizations, bhajan mandala, local clubs etc. are facing maoist pressure. Their strategy is to enter, influence, capture and coerce. If they are not allowed to enter, then they try to dismantle the organization anyhow, impose fear tactics, injest problems whatever they could (including character assassination of personal life). Social clubs, sporting circles, NGOS, midium size business organizations, established enterpreneurs etc. are on their prime target list. HM, being itself in the media business, is perhaps the only one of them which vehemently tried to stop the coercion and the whole story came out on media . Rest is just unheard.

Can we put any pressure to maoist sardars to stop it? I think, NO. The only way we can contribute in this case is to stop pampering maoist goons, which some of us have done in the past for any of their good or positively contributing acts. All the progressive acts or good-looking activities of maoists are nothing more than their attempt to suger-coat their wrong doings. It is shame for an educated person to jump supporting maoist groupe when they do / show a little good works, but unfortunately many has done that in several occasions. The events have proved enough "गधालाइ धोएर गाइ बन्दैन ।"

Ashu dai and friends, Lets do something to stop political youth wings taking law into their hands. Actually i should be asking if we can we do something to stop youth wings terrorizing general public. I guess no body knows the answer.

Nepali came to the streets to hand nepal to the maoist in a golden platter beleiving they will be better than any thing else they've seen. Only a few months into their rule we see rampant nepotism and extortion yet we simply talk about it. Nepalis are not only bhedas they are puussies. They are afraid to come to the streets against such criminal and illegal acts by the politicians. The maoists are slowly but steadily seeping into all aspects of govt, business and media. We have already seen what they are like now. If we place any hope on them, it is nothing but our stupidity and cowardice. Because the more we let them get away with their corrupt and anti democratic ways, the harder it will get to get rid of them. Ashu I applaud your effort and wish you all the best to stand ground and generate enough support to start active protest against this abusive politicians and government.

Ashudai,

 

Considering that I am still not plagued by Alzheimer, I recall a similar thread originated by you not too long ago. While I was deeply sorry about whole incident and was exceedingly critical about the extremely partisan yet combative unionism in Nepal, I also realized that I had debased myself to merely being a grouch. What I find more amusing is; a person of your stature has become one too, especially only when such circumstances have surfaced in your own fringes.  Talk is cheap, I know, I cannot possibly imagine myself in your situation, no wonder I’d be petrified. But then you are not me Ashudai. Being a prominent figure of one of the leading journals in Nepal, you should have seen the writing on the wall well ahead of time. Pardon my audacity, but after reading between your lines, I am obliged to say that you are desperately seeking vetoes from anonymous sajha users against maoist -influenced trade unions (if they are at all) - which is more or less like shooting blanks. However, I could very well relate with you in gleaning kudos if it assuages your trepidation to some extent. The upshot of that fateful incident must have been horrific.

 

Before I rant further, I have few questions for you? Why did you wait so long to start this thread when these incidents occur almost everyday? Did you just scream bloody murder because you assumed it could never happened to a Harvard laureate like you? Now that you just survived an attack does it make you more special than other victims in the past?

 

Perhaps my allegations are wrong; perhaps I must have completely misconstrued the purpose of your thread. But help me here, I found enough room for criticism. Again, as a media ambassador that you are, I would have wanted you to present a model that could possibly negate such socialist uprisings (if they are leftists at all, proclaiming oneself Maoist can bring back any hoodlum’s heyday). What you delineated in your thread is something we already know.  Tell us something new.

 

I did not want to muddy the water, the respect remains intact.

 

Nepe,

I take your point well. That's a good piece of advice on caution. And thank you for your email. 

Saroj, BC, Copycat, Usofa and Bhusan,

Many thanks for your postings, and for your thoughts here. I appreciate them.

Jet Favre,

When I decided to post these Union-related troubles on Sajha, I was acutely aware of what the famous baseball coach of LA Dodgers, Tommy Lasorda, had said on a different occasion: "Eighty per cent of the people don't care about your problems, and the other 20 percent are glad that you are having them."

But since I am the chief executive of a company AND a long-time contributor to Sajha, I decided to go ahead and bring these two personas together here to share my real-world, Nepal-specific observations and experiences because I wanted others to learn from my experiences and mistakes in Nepal so that, under similar circumstances, their results may be better in future when and if they become a part of corporate Nepal.

If you think this sort of sharing is NOT really necessary, well, then, let us agree to disagree.

Onto your questions:

1. Why did you wait so long to start this thread when these incidents occur almost everyday?

ANS: Because I was not here earlier, you probably think that I should spend all my time condemning all sorts of bad happenings in Nepal on Sajha. But that's not how I spend my time.

Last year, I wrote this article (please see the Web link below) as an advisory guideline to CEOs of Nepali companies, some of whom have since called on me to ask for further advice and suggestions. For sometime now, I've also been teaching a course to young Nepali managers, and the course deals with how to negotiate honestly, openly and strategically with Union leaders in Nepal. I have used the lessons of my own course to sign an agreement with the designated Union at my company that enjoys the written support of 85 per cent of the staff. And I was able to do that while letting 34 staff members to depart from the company in these times in Nepal on amicable terms without a single day of shutdown or strike.  

Presently, I am in the process of creating a loose coalition of lawyers, industrial relations expert and others to figure out ways to address labour union issues in Nepal.

I'm NOT sure how successful or effective my (these small, small) efforts will be, but the fear of results have not really stopped me from trying to do my best re: things I see as right in Nepal.

http://www.nepalitimes.com.np/issue/2007/10/05/StrictlyBusiness/14023

"2. Did you just scream bloody murder because you assumed it could never happened to a Harvard laureate like you?"

ANS: I fail to see what my university's got to do with me now or with the present problems that I am trying to address. So, the answer to your this question is: No.

The truth is, as a Nepali manager in Nepal, I am as vulnerable to and worried about Nepal's larger problems as anyone else in my shoes here. So, I am quite wide-eyed about this.  

3. "Now that you just survived an attack does it make you more special than other victims in the past?"

ANS: No.

I've never thought of myself as a victim in any sense. Like I said, I share these issues here so that there is better awareness and education and information and knowledge about these sorts of things out there.

Besides, quite frankly, I can't afford to lose hope and feel victimized: after all, every single day, I need to muster enormous energy to boost the morale of so many staff, and I greatly enjoy that aspect of my job.

I hope I have addressed your concerns. Thank you for your questions.

oohi

ashu

Ashu dai your stance on this is much respectable and admirable. Kudos to your resilience.

Jet Favre you have shown some good analysis but this "Did you just scream bloody murder because you assumed it could never happened to a Harvard laureate like you?" is unbecoming of you simply because you're making an assumption that ashu dai assumes. A little too much assuming in my opinion.

So, what's the latest development on this issue?

Himalmedia attacked again, dozen injured

Twelve staff of Himalmedia, including CEO Ashutosh Tiwari, Nepali Times editor and publisher Kunda Dixit, were injured in an attack by pro-Maoist workers at the organisation's office in Hatiban at noon on Sunday.
Dambar Krishna Shrestha, a journalist with fortnightly news magazine, Himal Khabarpatrika, shows his injuries he sustained in an attack by Maoist-affiliated workers and the cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) at Himal Media's office in Hattiban, Lalitpur, on Sunday, Dec 21 08. Around 50 persons barged into Himal Media, vadalising the office and attacking staffers including Editor of Nepali Times, Kunda Dixit, CEO Ashutosh Tiwari and Executive Editor Kiran Nepal. nepalnews.com/NPA    
Dambar Krishna Shrestha, a journalist with fortnightly news magazine, Himal...

About 50 attackers, including Maoist members Ramesh Babu Panta and Ramesh KC, were identified. Panta is the leader of the Maoist-affiliated Hotel and Restaurant Labour Union and KC is with the Media and Press Union Lalitpur unit.

They forcibly entered the premises and started beating up staff. They threatened editorial and administrative staff, saying they had written anti-Maoist stories.

The latest issue of Himal Khabarpatrika and Nepali Times have investigative stories about "extremist behaviour of Maoists who are threatening businesses and the media".

Sunday's attack is the latest in a series in the past month during which the Maoists vandalised an office vehicle, set fire to copies of Himalkhabarpatrika and threatened to kill staffers.

Other injured staffers include Finance Manager Bindira Shakya, Himal Khabarpatrika editor Kiran Nepal, Special Correspondent Damber K Shrestha, Administrative Manager Surendra Sharma.

"This is not a labour issue, this is a press freedom issue," said Nepali Times editor Kunda Dixit, "The Maoists want to control the media."

Finally Good News coming from Nepal!  After all, these "SLC Third Division" journalists were the one who supported Maoists to bring Monarchy an end. 

Now, go and pray with your God Krishna Mahara--the communication chief--to urge for security.  We all know, it is not your pen, it is the Maoists pen who forces you to write against Nepali integrity.

I wish Nepal had more journalists who were excluded from the class of "III Division"--the qualifier to be a Nepali journalist.  It was easy to write against King because he did not have "Punch" (as the Indian Dixit said", neither used Guns.  Counter with guns now, prove how strong your pen is.