Mobile Phone Craze and Shameful Failure of Nepal Telecom
In a shameful act today, Nepal Telecom, a government entity, couldn’t provide mobile phones as per the demand and halted the distribution of SIM cards indefinitely
If there is any name that represents the incompetence, pessimism and failure in a grand scale in the Nepali corporate sector, it’s undoubtedly Sugatratna Kansakar. It’s a shame that this man is the Managing Director of Nepal Telecom (NT), the country’s telecommunication giant, even after today’s artless drama performed on the streets of Kathmandu and in front of the NT offices. As many as two hundred fifty thousand people stood in the queues leading up to the Nepal Telecom counters in the city hoping to get prepaid SIM cards for the mobile phone. Telecom distributed slightly more than 60 thousand cards amidst chaos and poorly managed system. Such was the customer pressure that NT had to postpone the SIM card distribution abruptly and indefinitely. And here comes the incompetence and failure of Sugatratna Kansakar. He and his company knew that there were hundreds of thousands of people eagerly and tirelessly waiting for SIM cards. NT had refused to distribute the cards despite heavy demands citing, mainly, inadequate infrastructure. Over the several months, we have been told, NT improved and expanded the infrastructure to cater the ever-growing demand of cell phone lines. Today we saw how much improvement Kansakar did in Nepal Telecom.
Yes, everyone in Kathmandu wants to own a mobile phone and many of them are capable of doing so. This is an international phenomena that demands for cell phone is increasing in a staggering manner. Look at our neighboring countries: China and Indian. They are world’s leaders in adding Mobile phone subscribers. Nepal is not behind at least in cell phone. Unfortunately, there is no supply as per the demand.
In the mean time, NT introduced another mobile service, based on CDMA technology, called Sky Phone. This phone didn’t get the desired success among the young customers primarily for four reasons:
1. No roaming: The Sky phone brought in Kathmandu doesn’t work outside the Valley.
2. No SMS: The Sky phone doesn’t support the SMS, a popular service among youth who the majority of pre-paid mobile phones, to NT’s GSM network.
3. No balance transfer: The Sky phone doesn’t let the users transfer balance money like it lets in GSM prepaid network.
4. No choice on set: Until recently, there was no choice for the users of Sky phone to have the set of their desire and the one that NT came as defaults is horrible.
[An obvious question would be: what about Mero Mobile of Spice Cells? That's hell lot of expensive and is like pouring water in sand. Because all landlines belong to NT that also operates more than a million cell phones, NT is in advantage. NT to Mero Mobile or vice versa is expensive compared to NT to NT. Same with another private sector operator ULT. I prefer NT to these two companies and always encourage people to take NT than the other two. But NT never listens to its customers.]
My brother, a Sky phone user, always complains about the quality of the set and says he misses sending SMS to the larger network of GMS pre- and post-paid mobile phones. For all those reasons Sky phone couldn’t become popular among the youths and working class people.
It is a disappointing fact that Nepal Telecom has traditionally failed to provide phone lines as per the demands. There are tens of thousands of people still waiting for the landlines. We can understand that expanding landline or the basic phone lines is difficult compared to the mobile service. But Nepal Telecom only talked, it never acted. This company is one of the few Nepali government-owned companies that are enjoying healthy profit and there is immense possibility of its business expansion. Don’t misunderstand that the profit is because of the efficiency maintained by the NT staffs. IT’S NOT. It’s because it’s easy for NT, unlike Nepal Electricity Authority, to collect the tariff and there is hardly any chance to have revenue leakage (except in international calls that are made through the Internet which, given the worldwide development on that front, shouldn’t be considered a leakage but the regulation problem.) Even with so much possibility of business expansion without any risk, NT is not doing what it should be doing.
This is all because of the mindset of the folks like Kansakar who are more into having job and getting perks and grand salaries than doing the business.
Related News Links
1. NT prepaid SIM-card distribution draws overwhelming response
2.NT starts distribution of new pre-paid SIM-cards
Filed under: Wagle Web Log 2
I am sure the Royalists are responsible for this. No doubt.
I agree.Royalists are to be blamed for this.
Don’t you smell a conspiracy ?Atleast i do.
So Wagle, should not things get better now that you have your brother Mahara as information minister ? Or is he busy using the funds to feed his guys in cantonements?
UWB: comment deleted
Wagle ji, you are foaming at the mouth. Take a deep breath and relax. What happened? Someone you know could not get a SIM card? Perhaps you should go gherao Minister Krishna Mahara. No wait, the YCL would probably chop off your fingers.
We don’t hear you ranting about the Dept. of Electricity and their countless power cuts. Or the fact that we don’t get drinking water for days on end. Or that garbage goes uncollected for weeks. Or that security for the common people has all but disappeared. Don’t you think these are MUCH more essential services than SIM cards ???
If you must make noise, go after the serious issues facing the country. Only then will you be taken seriously by your readers. Otherwise, we just read your blog, laugh, and have a good time.
Blame on Maoist no Mr. Sugatratna Kansakar. They hold the Information and communication ministry. It is the responsibility of that ministry to provide service. Well half of the country’s infrastructure has been destroyed in what they call people’s war now they should be ready to answer the shortage in demand for Telco service.
In this country where children go hungry, Wagle is outraged over the lack of mobile phones. I vote him ‘Man of the People’. Let’s award him with a position in a ‘bina bivagya’ ministry and have his picture taken, with him sitting on Girija’s lap.
In a nation where majority of citizens struggle for basics in life (food,shelter,health care and education), debate over inadequate cellular phone lines is worthless regardless of the responsible party. ” United We Blog for a Democratic Nepal ” ?? Who’re you kiddin ?? Ha Ha
Mr. Wagle’s blogs are Kathmandu-centred, not Nepal-centred. I bet more than 80% of Nepalese don’t even think of mobile phones as a necessity. I can also bet that more than 50% don’t even know what mobile phones are.
In a country where the government can’t even provide enough food for the people, its not feasible for it to provide SIM cards for hundreds of thousands in a matter of days. You should have known long ago this wouldn’t really happen. If you did believe in what NT said, you definately not a realist.
hey there seems like there is no good news to Nepalese business in the future.
check this out:
Maoists lock up, cops unlock APCA House
BY KOSH RAJ KOIRALA
KATHMANDU, April 7 - Cadres of a Maoist-affiliated trade union on Friday evening padlocked the Asia Pacific Communication Associates (APCA), a media house for dismissing four of their colleagues.
Eyewitnesses said some 30 cadres of All Nepal Communication and Press Employees Association (ANCEA) stormed APCA House and padlocked the news room of The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post dailies and the main gate at about 8 pm.
They also gave an ultimatum to the administration to reinstate the sacked employees who worked in the press and circulation section of APCA house. A senior member of the Annapurna Post, on condition of anonymity, said Maoist cadres entered the newsroom and asked all staff on duty to stop work and go home.
“They also said they wouldn’t let the publication publish its Saturday issues until their friends were re-instated,” he said, adding, “But we didn’t leave. We continued working.”
Among other things, the Maoists demanded that they be allowed to open a trade union at APCA.
A police team from the nearby Metropolitan Police Sector Office, Singha Durbar, later approached the media house and unlocked both the offices at about 10 pm.
Police had to use slight force to disperse the agitating mob, gathering at APCA premises.
Arjun Prasad Gautam, president of ANCCEA, said they were forced to padlock the media house after the administration sacked four of its members for setting up a Maoist-affiliated trade union at APCA.
He said the administration had sacked Jyotikhar Nepal three days ago, while three others–Narayan Prasad Pahadi, Rajan Acharya, and Gautam were handed over suspension letters on Friday.
At about 11 pm, the management held a brief meeting with ANCCEA members and they decided to sit for the next round of meeting to settle the issue tomorrow.
Following the meeting, ANCCEA withdrew the protest for the day.
This Maoist trade union BS is what’s going to drown this country. forget about free market competition, competitive labor laws etc. now we have a bunch of GOONS that are going to ruin the business in Nepal. As if things weren’t bad enough.
Ahhhhhh…finally the Peace Process is working and man it works like a charm does it not ? Hehehehehehehe….Long Live MJF…kill these bastards.
I cannot wait for the day when the Maoists will lock the seven party leaders in jail…it not not that far off…I cannot wait till that day. I pray it comes soon and teaches these bastards a lesson once and for all for trusting the Maoists and fighting over ministerial positions.
LOL @ U2 (05:46:16)
You wrote what I wanted to say but was too lazy to write. Thanks for doing it on my behalf too.
DONT FORGET HOW TALEBAN CAME INTO EXISTENCE. MAOISTS WILL DO A SIMILAR THING WITH POLITICAL PARTIES. DRAG SPA CRIMINALS OUT OF HOME AND HANG THEM IN THE STREETS OF KATHMANDU. AND THEN THEY WILL SEND NEPAL BACK INTO 2 THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE BIKRAM SAMVAT.
BEWARE OF SPAM OTHERWISE NO CHANCE FOR NEPAL!!!!!!
——————————————————————–
27 September 1996: Afghan forces routed as Kabul falls
The capital of Afghanistan has fallen to opposition militia after three days of fierce fighting.
Taleban forces consolidated their grip on Kabul after storming the presidential palace - the country’s seat of government - 24 hours ago.
Ousted President Burhanuddin Rabbani, his prime minister and his military chief are being hunted by the radical Islamic group who branded them “national criminals”.
The former president, Mohammed Najibullah, and his brother have already been murdered by the militants.
One-eyed opposition leader Mullah Mohammed Omah and his student fighters had been repulsed from the city twice before, but this time it appeared government forces lost the will to fight.
Panic
Hundreds were killed and many have fled for the protection of the Jabal-us-Seraj base north of Kabul.
They leave a ruined, war-torn city deserted by almost all the aid agencies that were working there until a few days ago.
“There was so much panic in the city, so much tension, that everyone who could, fled,” said Azad Singh Toor, an Indian diplomat.
But many of the citizens in Kabul are waiting to see if the Taleban can unite the country under one faction after decades of internal conflict.
And the murder of the last communist ruler of Afghanistan, former president Najibullah, was a grim warning to anyone who wished to oppose their version of Islamic rule.
The “Soviet puppet” and Taleban hate figure was dragged out of the UN compound where he had sought refuge in 1992 and was beaten, shot and hanged in front of the presidential palace.
People:
Let me go on record and state the the single biggest problem/threat to Nepal is going to be this YCL and these Maoist Workers union. And no matter what Prachanda is not going to curb these groups. Because this groups will be Prachanda’s bargaining chip.
This is the most ridiculous post. Out of everything thats going on we turn our attention to the lack of SIM cards for mobil phones. Well it is an issue and Mr. Wagle has every right to post it. But is non the less it is inconsistant with his other blogs dealing with more entailing issues.
Nepal’s Corrupt Telecommunications Sector Look at this post for the shameful corrupt and my real account. There were YCL, police and telecom officers- all corrupt and giving out bundles of SIM-cards to those who paid much.
Wagle ji, the overwhelming response from the public to NT’s SIM distribution surprised just about everyone, not only the NT managers. NT has underestimated the demand of Namaste SIMs among the public. But I don’t think this should be regarded as a shameful failure. To address this issue NT is currently under process to add 600K mobile lines within next 6mnts and 35M more lines in a years time.
But what was shameful was the behavior of public, pelting stones and dismantling traffic separators, behaving like monkeys.
You people need to get a grip. Fear-mongering has its limits. Maoists didn’t retaliate for Gaur. Either they see the limits of their own power, or they’ve really decided to join the mainstream.
In any case, Nepal finally has a chance for peace. Yes, Prachanda and co. rose through power through violence, but that’s the way it sometimes is. There have been violent insurrections in many parts of the world which were resolved peacefully.
What plan do these royalist morons have? That we send the Maoists back to the jungles again and have another war? Do you guys have any common sense? Nepal is one of the world’s poorest countries. Do you think it can afford another war?
The Maoists have been politically contained. Deal with it. And your beloved Gyanendra Shah had nothing to do with it. Deal with that too.
Frankly, why don’t you guys open up your own royalist blog or something and praise Gyanendra all that you want there? Oh, but no one’s ever going to go there besides you, so you come here. You want attention.
This post reflects the nature and the source of your (Kantipur’s reporter’s) writing, immaturity and folly. And this applies to all your posts, those so-called political analysis.
Just because you or your relative didn’t get the SIM card, you came here and started shouting and abusing and blaming, in your ‘trademark’ style. Just shout and blame, without reasons.
I or any of my relative was never an employee of NTC, but let me remind you that if there is ANY SINGLE profit-making or SUCCESSFUL government’s corporation, it’s NTC. Read what is has achieved in just in 5 years time, and you will see it.
And, it distributed 70,000 SIM Cards in a Single Day? Can you imagine any organization in Nepal changing lives of 70000 people in a single-day?
Mend your attitude, Wagle. You are just too immature; and keep on writing just like a kid depending on your personal mood or advantage. And people like you make up Kantipur.
UWB: comment deleted.
You are right manan, Nepal is the poorest countries in the world, and it cannot afford to feed two armies, especially the one that lazes around in cantonements demanding facilities.
If not to the jungles, put these uneducated and barbaric individuals to some sort of work that will ebnefit the poor nation.
Mind you, they are still violent, although the war is long over, why are they still violent ? Politically contained…really ? Where have u been living. Wake up Mr. Robinson Crusoe, Maoists are not a political force, they are Guerillas still behaving like Gorillas in the Jungle and thats where they belong.
Agree with anti mandale. All royalists should be deported to Indian-run site Sajha.
You God damn clowns are the second reason that Nepal is going to drown. Just watch. There is prachanda declaring that the ’struggle is going to continue in a different form’ (whatever that means), the YCL is causing havoc all over the place, Mahara is talking about banning Beauty pagents and other such events, Maoist affliated workers unions are now intimidating businessman without any reprecussions etc.
Forget about all that. Let’s keep talking about ‘Royalists’. These people need a really good slap across their face - the kind that leave a handprint.
Manan I think you need to get a grip. Sitting around in NY and sipping on your $3 latte at Starbucks and spitting some hip liberal BullSh*it that you recently heard is all you are good for.
Let me save you the trouble of calling me a Royalist. Because I am certain that’s where you will go to - it’s a convenient way to get out of the situation.
Peace you say? What the hell is that? Be more specific dimwit. You think there is peace in Nepal?
By the way Manan - nothing personal. Sorry I was just caught in the heat of the moment.
I know a little bit about the NT because during my younger years as a banker I used to look after this account. It get’s a lot of aid from foreign countries. It’s makes a lot of money on the international phone calls that are made into Nepal and that go out of Nepal. It sits on huge cash reserves it has earned due to the monopoly status it held for decades. Every time the NT buys any equipment there are huge kickbacks involved…it goes right up to the Minister concerned. Remember Chiranjeevi Wagle and his son? They made a huge killing and I am sure the ministers before him and after are doing the same. Though Mero Mobile and UTL have been allowed to operate the severe restrictions put on them means that they cannot compete with NT on a level field. For any player to succeed in the telecom industry huge investments are required and breaking even would easily take up to five-seven years. With the unstable situation in the country and rules that severely restrict the private operators I cannot see investors really interested in Nepal. That means we will have to rely on NT for a long time to come. NT with all their huge resources and monopoly status cannot even provide proper coverage on cell phones within the Kathmandu valley, the wait to get landlines (unless you pay for the more expensive version) is endless. Even then I know many businesses that have been waiting forever to get more landlines but NT is unable to provide this because all the exchanges are apparently full and need upgrading (so what’s stopping them from doing this?).
This industry needs to be completely privatized for it to get better. Look at what happened in India. They privatized this sector and now Indians enjoy the cheapest cell phone call rates in the world. If business is to do well a good communications infrastructure is essential. The Govt. should do to the telecoms sector what it did to the airlines industry-open it up for all comers-I am sure if this happens consumers all over Nepal would get more choices and much better service.
This is my main worry about the Maoists in the govt. Instead of liberalizing the economy they talk about more regulations and more nationalizations of certain industries (meaning no privatization). It’s failed everywhere it has been tried..in India, Europe, China, South America etc so what makes these guys think it will be a success here? I cannot understand their irrationality when it comes to learning history’s lessons. When the whole world is rushing towards globalization and economic liberalization with so much success (just look at India, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malayasia, South Korea etc) these guys seem to be hell bent on running the other way. We hear so much about the intellectual capacity of the Maoist leaders i.e the Baburams, Hsila Yamis, Ale Magars etc but really to me it seems that their brains rotted away quite sometime ago (probably in the jungles).
What the hell Roylists doing yar Mr Wagle! You should write another topic about this!
Roylist ARE BEHIND this failure!
Bhudai Pandit,
Apology accepted. I take it you are in Nepal right now. So you obviously know the situation better than I do. Okay, so tell me. Is there not a general feeling that peace is finally around the corner? When I talk to folks back home, that’s the impression I get.
By the way, I’m not too concerned about Prachanda and co making a little noise. ( One thing I really found funny was Mahara or whoever calling on a ban on beauty shows. In India, its the Hindu fundies who call for such things. )
I wouldn’t worry about Mahara. I think the Maoists know they don’t have much of a future if they go on their thuggish ways. Gaur should have taught them a few things.
But you’ve got to give them a little time to adjust. Okay, they may go around beating people now and then. But that’s a lot better than people killing each other.
Don’t expect Wonderland too soon. These things take time.
Come on man, it is not “shameful” for a supplier not to be able to meet demand. Especially in a a resource strapped country like ours. Lets not lose our sleep over it. If NT can’t supply sim cards there are three other private telcom providers now.
manan: Irrespective of where I am (I am actually not in Nepal right now) you are being grossly misled if people are telling you that there is ‘peace’ in Nepal. Just because the NA and the Maoists aren’t fighting it would be very FOOLISH to think that there is peace in Nepal.
Have you not been reading the news? There is this place called Terai. Ask your people if they think it’s peaceful down there. In KTM these Maoist affliated workers union are slowly gaining momemtum and causing havoc. Once these goons get into the full swings of things you can forget about a free market economy. Plus the rise of the YCL is just a bad omen for the future. Don’t dismiss what’s happening as ‘Maoist making a little noise’.
Nepal tecom Authority should change the inter carrier traffi rates, so that calls to and from other mobiles companies are at par with the rates of Nepal Telcom.
Then the people will start buying sim cards of other companies also, NT will face a real competation. Right now there is a monopoly market for NT and these things are bound to happen. Once the playing field is even, NT sim cards will be available in “Kirana” stores like that of in India.
Wake up authority and make the playing field even.
Wagle’s articles are so often focussed on issues that is suffered by members of his family it is sounding way too desperate.
1. He fumed when he couldn’t get access to the internet for a couple of hours because the ISPs shut down as a protest against Maoist excesses.
2. He fumed when his mother wasn’t allowed back in their traditional home by maoist.
3. Fumes when his Brother’s GSM phone doesn’t work as desired.
WAGLE, are you ever going to stop being a typical Bahun with the typical Indian last name and get over yourself?
UWB:Wagle doesn’t intend to give you a lesson on journalism here but let him just tell you that it’s a general norm for journalists and columnists throughout the world to present the story with personal touch if their personal stories represent the general trend in the society. Look in to all the three stories that you cite as examples and you will find that those problems are the problems of Nepali society, not just one individual. And yes, you are free to send your stories that you might think worth sharing with others. If you are too afraid to reveal your identity in public, don’t worry, we will keep that secret!
Bhudai-calm down. I am in Nepal unlike you and Manan and though things are certainly not hunky dory here there certainly is a feeling that long term peace is within our grasp…the mood is positive. Ofcourse things can take a sudden change for the worse…but hey one needs hope to make it through the day. The last seven years was like being trapped in a long dark tunnel with very little light at the end-overall things are certainly better now. The Tarai seems to be less violent right now. I expect the fervor of the YCL and the Maoist trade unions to fizzle out over a couple of years especially after their leaders start seeing some moolah line their pockets. The only thing I am really worried about is if the Maoists have a stake in the govt. to come what their economic policies will be. We need liberalization of the economy and these guys seem to want to go the opposite way. Still trade unionism is better than a brutal war, eh?
I am nothing like a royalist but i would hate nepal being a soaclist country . Its a great theory but dosent works in practice . Its somthing like being friends with your ex. And abou NT failing to provide sim cards …….. well people curse and blame NT for poor services and bla bla bla ……… but in the end when the distribute sim card you get lines like that .
Wagle, That was a good one. Now, Wagle is a bona fide “journalist” telling stories interspersed with personal anecdotes!
Manan, I don’t think Prachanda & Co. are just making a little noise. I think it’s more like a clamour. The cacophony produced their ilk is ominous of chaos and mayhem that is going to be unleashed in not too distant future, i.e., the CA elections. I guess I’m not as optimistic as you are, mate!
Guest - I like your insight into NT. For Nepal, economic liberalization and privatisation in many sectors is very important, not just fashionable. Once we start stabilizing on the political front, many sectors must be privatised (say 70-30% FDI-domestic captial ratio like in India).
The most critical attention that the govt must pay first in this area is the NOC.
regarding privatization, i agree that privatisation and market oriented behaviour is a solution to achieve better peformance but only if the conditions are in favour… especially in case of infrastrucutures like telecom which is a natural monopoly …
it is good to go for privatization untill the relevant laws and institutions are in good shape. for example without effective implementation of competition laws privatization can result in more worries than their expected benefits . .. suppose the NT is privatized and after a year it merges with the remaining small companies to form one company.. wouldnot that result in a monopoly that is able to increase the price at will… dont we need an effective regulator beforehand before venturing into such risky decisions …
I would like to thank you Mr. Wagle about your concern and observation. I strongly feel it is about time to take action by the general public of Nepal. All Nepalese citizens should join together to rootout those type of incompetent managers specially in government and corporation offices.
Specially I fully agree with you that Nepal telecommunications corporation is the worse one. All corporations like Water and Sewarage, Nepal Electricity Authority, Nepal Oil Corporations and Nepal Airlines are same. All those corporations are run by incompetent Managers. This is because of nepotism and political position placings. All those corporations should be run by Managing Dirctors of neutral body through equal competition. If general public of Nepal don’t take any action now then this tradition will remain forever in Nepal.
In this issue politicians are responsible too. Like Minister of Communications Mr. Mahara should fire Mr. Kansakar unconditionally if he truely wants to bring changes in Nepal. If he doesn’t then politicians are not serious to build our nation. They are only there to suck blood of Nepalese people just like others in the past.
All government subsidised corporations and government offices should be tried out by general public. If any irregularities are found in those establishment general public should bring out to public. If problem still persists then general public should start ANDOLAN III. That is the only way to strighten things out in Nepal. If not future generation of Nepal will face huge and serious problems. In addition beautiful country Nepal will collaps and ethnic violence gets worse.
Neither former nor present government are serious about the country. It is true that all are there to fulfill their finacial needs and gains. Because of wrong attitude at the top level all government officials in lower level ask bribe openly in all offices. If it is not stopped at this stage Nepal will be in such a deep trouble she will never get corrected. Nepal lost hope from all sides now only remains general public to act.
If Nepal looks at the past stories it is extremely depressing. During RANA regime the country got smaller because more productive low lands bordered with India was given up for their benefit before British left in 1947. After that monarch of Nepal plus casual democratic government sold all National resources to India. After restoration of democracy in 1990 politicians openly took bribes to build their party offices and for their personal gains. Now the Maoist have joined the Government so it is obvious that they will build their party office and work for personal gains. What democracy in Nepal did was the inflation pushed to the highest magnitude. Because of that the general public of Nepal suffered more than anything.
To cut everything to short it is about time to wake general public up and build new nation for future generation. It is obvious no government will do anything. The government will only make daily necessities expensive in the local market by pushing inflation further more nothing else. So all patriotic countrymen, I urge to join together to fight incompetent placement in different offices and corruption in all sector in the country.
To UWB:
Let me quote you first:
“Journalists and columnists throughout the world to present the story with personal touch if their personal stories represent the general trend in the society.”
Actually the ethic that is taught in US Journalism schools is to use OTHER peoples’ stories that sends a message which generally relates to the society at large. I don’t know where you were taught to use your own relatives’ stories as “personal touch.”
If you claim that your story relates to so many other citizens of your society, then why don’t you just interview one of them? It will definitely send a message that does not reek of bias and/or propaganda.
And please do not claim to be the judge of journalism to “anonymous” people on your blog.
As journalists in the NBC Delhi office, we are also kind of confused why as a journalist you would ask me to “reveal” my identity? what are you planning on doing with my identity anyway?
By the way we know enough technology to realize you probably are looking at our american headquarter’s IP address that never changes.
Wow, there are NBC people reading this blog. Hey NBC reporters…please tell the world that India (Indian National Congress) and gang have managed to get the terrorists in power…they have shot their way to power with the help of propaganda and hooliganism. Now they have brainwashed some Nepali people. The supporters of SPAM are generally those people who benefit from them. Actually there are some SPAM cadres abroad too. They go out and seek asylum in foreign countries. And then they work there for 2 dollars an hour and send 1 dollar of this back to SPAM to create more troubles in Nepal. More troubles in Nepal means their asylum plea will be granted. You know the story is same like Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebels who are outside because of civil war in Sri Lanka fund the civil war. If Nepal were to be under SPAM we will have this civil war for decades to come.
Please tell the world that if we Nepalis have to progress we need a AUTOCRATIC King to wipe off terrorism and corruption and move in the path of peace. Once we achieve peace we can have Democracy, Loktantra, etc.
To Wagle’s anger,
>>Ethic that is taught in US journalism schools…! Read columns published in US newspapers and you will find how many columnists do relate their personal experience with the issue that they are writing about. For people like you who praise wholeheartedly whatever Americans do and if the same or something similar or better than that is done by Nepalis, you immediately try to discard them because you people feel too much uneasy about that. Let me believe for a second that work in New Delhi. Try to find an issue of the Sunday Times of India, New Delhi edition, of a few weeks ago, go to the editorial page and notice the small i and big I. If you fail to understand that, read this: Mostly, the opinion pieces are written from personal perspectives with personal experiences or stories of the writer. They also interview sources, include quotes and case studies whenver necessary.
If you claim that your story relates to so many other citizens of your society, then why don’t you just interview one of them?
>>You don’t have to tell me what to do and what not to do. I know exactly what I am writing about. I will take interview; include quotes or even photos when I feel that’s necessary.
And please do not claim to be the judge of journalism to “anonymous” people on your blog.
>>Who the judge? Who first came up with the judgement here that Wagle is like this and that? And now, you are making Wagle the judge of journalism. Read again the earlier reply and come here to point out where he claimed to be the judge. At least to you, the anonymous creature, I can claim to be the judge. See my answer below on anonymity.
As journalists in the NBC Delhi office, we are also kind of confused why as a journalist you would ask me to “reveal” my identity?
>>> Ha, ha, ha. Do you think I believe that you work for NBC New Delhi? Do I believe that NBC hires such fools in their foreign bureau? If you talk about “American Journalism Schools” and claim to be working for “NBC”, I suppose you are at least aware about the whole debate about ‘anonymous sources’ and ‘anonymity’ in American journalism. Many American news organizations are strongly discouraging their reporters from using anonymous sources because of the various scandals. When they are not named, “sources” tend to twist the stories because they don’t have to be accountable for what they say. Ditto with anonymous creatures like you who don’t have to be accountable for what you write in Internet forums.
Good debate. Wagle didn’t convince me much…he came down to the the same, ‘you don’t tell me what to do’. I would go for Wagle’s anger. But hmmm, Wagle’s last point had some substance in it.
To UWB:
With all due respect, we do enjoy reading your blogs mostly when our bosses are asleep on the other side of the world.
What you have achieved single handedly with this blog forum is commendable. However, with power comes responsibility.
As an avid reader of your blog almost every day (during what we call the “slow news day”) we have (and hope your readers agree) that during the beginning of the Madhesi uprising in Southern Nepal, your articles (especially the titles) were completely irresponsible and 100% biased towards unfounded facts and you mentioned of NO real sources, but your opinions.
Hence we have a nickname for you here in our office “prostitute journalist.”
I would strongly suggest you actually practice what you preach. Writing as a commentator on your blog doesn’t really make me a “source” so I have no reason to reveal my true identity.
On the other hand, you hardly ever mention credible sources when you write. Your Mom or your Brother isn’t really considered as credible as a source as NY Times reporter Judith Miller who went to Jail for months because she REFUSED to identify her source in the white-house that eventually led to the conviction of Lewis “Scooter” Libby.
You know there is always a “reason” for asking for someone’s identity in Journalism. The reason is to make sure the person is a “credible source” for a newsworthy article. In this case there is “no reason” for you to even dare ask my identity in a public forum like this.
Namaste and have a nice day.
To be fair, the nickname “Prostitute Journalism” was actually coined by an anonymous reader/commenter on UWB a few weeks ago.
Couldn’t be close to the truth after reading the anger filled opinionated Journalistic vomit against poor and marginalized South-Nepali people that have for 250 years been marginalized by the Same ethnic INDIANS, albeit with a little fairer skin. That could literally be tried as “inciting hatred” in courts in some countries.
Yo have power with this popular blog, use it responsibly and FAIRLY even when the facts lean towards some group of people who you might not like personally. Angry journalists do not carry large readerships that can sustain.
Your true character as being seen might cause irreparable harm as a journalist.
“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
— Abraham Lincoln
[D]uring the beginning of the Madhesi uprising in Southern Nepal, your articles (especially the titles) were completely irresponsible and 100% biased towards unfounded facts and you mentioned of NO real sources, but your opinions.
>>There is a general habit among political leaders and others in Nepal that whenever they find the media not reporting as per their wish, they instantly blame the media for being irresponsible and doing yellow journalism. We see the same in your comment above. It seems you didn’t like the way UWB covered the protests. Let me tell you that just because didn’t like certain title or tone of the article doesn’t mean that was false. We tried our best to support the stories with photos or relevant quotes from credible sources. While strongly disagreeing with your allegation, I respect you right to say that our coverage was “irresponsible and 100% biased”. I am used to with the brands like pro-Maoist, anti-Maoist, pro-palace, anti-palace, pro-Girija, anti-Girija. I know there are all sorts of folk out there and I quote Bijay Kumar, my former boss in Nepal Magazine, from an editorial meeting: “Just keep on writing because you can’t satisfy all Gorkhe with one story. Some will definitely get angry with you.”
Hence we have a nickname for you here in our office “prostitute journalist.”
>> Limit that in your office dude and don’t broadcast on “NBC” because that would give me the opportunity to sue the channel for, let me use your words, “completely irresponsible and 100% biased” and “unfounded” and based on “NO real sources but your opinions” that slander me.
“I would strongly suggest you actually practice what you preach. Writing as a commentator on your blog doesn’t really make me a “source” so I have no reason to reveal my true identity.”
>>Did I ever say that your commenting on UWB has made you my “source”? I brought up the issue of anonymity, source and journalism because you started giving me the lecture claiming to be a staff in the NBC Delhi office. And I tried to relate things to journalism. My point was that “anonymity” largely relates with “irresponsibility”. And you are one perfect example.
“Your Mom or your Brother isn’t really considered as credible as a source”
Now, is this again the NBC Delhi office staff speaking? Do you think that my stories in which I quote my mom or my brother were about Rocket Science? Read them again dude. The first one was about Maoists joining the government and the problem of IDPs and the second one was about the disadvantages of CDMA Sky phones compared that of GSM phone. And both persons whom I quote in the stories have the first hand and direct experience about the related topics addressed in the stories. But tell me oh “NBC staff”, which of your American journalism school teaches you that mothers and brothers “isn’t really considered as credible as a source”? Or is it just that we have to do whatever some anonymous creature who claims to be the NBC Delhi staff” “strongly” suggests us to do?
In this case there is “no reason” for you to even dare ask my identity in a public forum like this.
>>Well, I’ve no interest in your identity at all. But you might be aware about some research that people in internet tend to say one thing when they are anonymous and say completely the other thing (on the same issue) when they say with their real names and address and photos! Again, you are one example of such people.
Have a nice time in “NBC” “Delhi” “Office” when your “bosses are asleep on the other side of the world!”
And thanks for the second lecture on puret and power etc. That puret is also a NBC Delhi staff as far as I can guess. Or may be CNN Bangkok staff, for a change.
Thank you for the debate Mr. Wagle.
We, as the readers of your articles judge you, regardless of whether someone “posts” a comments or keeps the judgement to one’s self.
In this case I decided to spend some time vetting judgments against your ethics since you are STILL claiming that your articles against the Madhesis are backed by hearsay facts and so called “pictures.”
“Pictures of dead bodies” are not facts since the bodies are themselves not alive to tell you who really killed them.
What is the fact is that your mind is so biased you still deny that the Madhesis are truly entitled to not only 50% of the political power in Nepal, but in fact some sort of Affirmative action to correct the mistakes your “indian” ancestors have made against them for the last 300+ years.
Why don’t you ever admit to the fact that your last name is still a common last name in India and that you have no right yourself to speak against the people of Terai who are at least proud enough of their own heritage to not Deny the origin of the blood that runs in their veins.
You know what? even if you might consider yourself a little fairer, for Americans you are still a brownie, and I am sure you felt that way in your “short trip” to the US on the invitation of the US Govt. Oh we Still remember you were so excited you even scanned the invitation and published it !
Why don’t you admit that in America people of Nepali origin (same for Pakistan, Srilanka and Bangladesh) are generally assumed as being Indians by their looks Dark or Fair !
Yes I am an American and I know these things like the back of my head, regardless of what you might say. You really do not have Blond hair and Blue eyes Mr Wagle.
Donald Trump once said about Nepal on the David Letterman Show on CBS television.
“I am not like those people from Nepal who are so desperate to separate themselves from the Indian identity and are yet so helpless, they drink Philipino Beer and go beat their wives up at night”
I, for one, would never reveal my identity to you because your anger truly scares me. Hey but come to the US and I will see you with my sawed off shot gun and do you a Dick Cheney !
Don’t judge your readers so publicly, it only makes you look bad believe me. No one even knows my name yes you’re right and why would I ever disclose it.
THis is the beauty of free Speech, and I admire you for carrying on this debate, but you truly ARE the “Angry Wagle”
I really should have chosen something other than NBC, maybe Christian Science Monitor would have been better since I am still going to stay anonymous.
why don’t you try and Sue them one by one like you threatened me? if you can threaten an anonymous and harmless poster, god knows what you would do in person.
Holy Cow !
Good debate going on. I am liking it. Wagle if you are being a ‘journlaist’ blogger you have to be neutral. I know that you all get funding from SPAm (in some way or other). Or at least you are a supporter of SPAm and that takes out your credibility. You are not blogging for ‘Democracy’…you are blogging for ‘Propaganda’ against the traditional mindsets of people.
And you are seeing it here itself that almost 50%-60% people are against what you write and see you as biased.
I have never seen a single post ever from you criticizing what SPAm does. In democracy every party makes mistakes…and we have well known 7 criminal parties…aren’t they making any mistakes…? How democratic is it to amend constitution as and when you wish…as if it were your underwears? Is this Democracy? They haven’t got any Elections and they are amending the entire constitution as if the country is their footwear. I posted an article by Mithun Jung that talks about constitution changes…you must read it.
If you indeed are blogging ‘United for Democracy’…than do it that way! Or else you are ‘blogging for Prostitute Democracy’ and you are certainly not in sync and United with others.
Being a ‘journalist’ you carry some responsibility…you should carry it with care otherwise you would get down in the same Yellow Journalism league…
People have aleady made up their minds that My Sansar, UWB and gang were formed to carry out a massive propaganda.
Wagle, I am sorry but you are a Sham. I was just reading news about Terai. It has broken…it’s burning there. The businesses have died and Businessmen are being thrashed. Is this Loktantra?
Damn, I better be under (Autocratic) King where I get peace rather than brutal murderers.
There is a small work in my bank that needs to be done today. As I was signing out to rush towards there, saw your comment and smiled reading the whole text! So decided to file a quick reply!
We, as the readers of your articles judge you, regardless of whether someone “posts” a comments or keeps the judgement to one’s self.
>> Agree but I as a writer, let me say, I don’t always have to follow their judgment. Did you read what Bijay Kumar told me? No offence but there are many readers with their own agendas and vested interests.
In this case I decided to spend some time vetting judgments against your ethics since you are STILL claiming that your articles against the Madhesis are backed by hearsay facts and so called “pictures.”
>> Yes, yes, I still claim. The articles were not against Madhesis. One palace sponsored Upendra Yadav doesn’t represent Madhesis.
“Pictures of dead bodies” are not facts since the bodies are themselves not alive to tell you who really killed them.
>> Oh..ho, NBC aka CSM staff, here comes anther divine line: pictures of dead bodies are not facts! No comment on this really!
What is the fact is that your mind is so biased you still deny that the Madhesis are truly entitled to not only 50% of the political power in Nepal, but in fact some sort of Affirmative action to correct the mistakes your “indian” ancestors have made against them for the last 300+ years.
>> It’s your “fact” that I deny respectable representation of Madhesis in Nepali politics. My fact is that I am for the Madhesi rights. Why I was against the Updenra Yadav’s tandab in Madhes is because the whole thing had ill intention of disruption the CA election and destabilizing the SPA government and providing ground to Gyanendra against democracy.
Why don’t you ever admit to the fact that your last name is still a common last name in India and that you have no right yourself to speak against the people of Terai who are at least proud enough of their own heritage to not Deny the origin of the blood that runs in their veins.
>> Now! My last name a common name in India! What the hell has that to do with me? Do you know there is one senator with Wagle surname in the state of Kansas, the NBC/CSM staff?
You know what? even if you might consider yourself a little fairer, for Americans you are still a brownie, and I am sure you felt that way in your “short trip” to the US on the invitation of the US Govt.
>> Again, you are venting your anger against your American “bosses” with me! That’s your problem dude. And No comment on this.
Oh we Still remember you were so excited you even scanned the invitation and published it!
>> Of course, I was excited. Why not? Have you ever received such invitation?
Why don’t you admit that in America people of Nepali origin (same for Pakistan, Srilanka and Bangladesh) are generally assumed as being Indians by their looks Dark or Fair !
>> Why should I admit that, dude? I thought you were talking about my “biased and irresponsible” journalism.
Yes I am an American and I know these things like the back of my head, regardless of what you might say. You really do not have Blond hair and Blue eyes Mr Wagle.
>>Okay, okay you can safely claim that you are American, or English or whatever comes to your mind. Glad to know that you are not Nepali. Here is a suggestion: stick to your NBC coverage then showing interest in Nepali politics! It’s too complex to understand for a NBC Delhi staff who watches Trump talking to Letterman on CBS.
I, for one, would never reveal my identity to you because your anger truly scares me.
>>Good, you must be scared! I like that!!
Hey but come to the US and I will see you with my sawed off shot gun and do you a Dick Cheney !
>> The guy wasn’t killed, was he? But for the US State Department guests, the security arrangement was pretty satisfactory to keep the rascals away!
Don’t judge your readers so publicly, it only makes you look bad believe me. No one even knows my name yes you’re right and why would I ever disclose it.
>> Well, you are not a reader, are you? You are the NBC Delhi Staff! I think I can judge them remarkably well.
THis is the beauty of free Speech, and I admire you for carrying on this debate, but you truly ARE the “Angry Wagle”
>>Yes, and I am enjoying that beauty very well. I also admire you for your views! You are no less angrier, dude. At least, I hadn’t talked about doing Dick Cheney! I was merely playing Golf, dude!
Is Wagle and Puspa Dahal the same person? Terai is burning and Pushpa Dahal says Royalists are doing. And here is Wagle and he says the same.
And what about this, “YCL cadres thrash businessman in Biratnagar”. Is YCL run by King Gyanendra? How propagandist and irresponsible can Wagle get? Recently it came to fore that SPAM and YCL kidnapped 20 marwaris and extorted around 500 million rupees. That is also Royalists doing it? Now, if Marwaris take up arms against SPAM for their protection they would also be Royalists. Thank gawd, Marwaris have some brains and self-respect…unlike you Wagle and gang.
And stop being a nonsense that King Gyanendra is doing this and that…you have House Arrested all of the ’so-called’ Royalists as one of the commentator ‘b’ was saying here. Anyone who speaks against the atrocities of SPAM will be branded something and will be thrown into prison or house arrested. Damn rascals don’t want elections and will blame others for not having it!
__________________________________
YCL cadres thrash businessman in Biratnagar
A leading businessman has been thrashed by cadres of Young Communist League (YCL) and pro-Maoist union activists in Biratnagar on Tuesday.
Shyam Sundar Sharda of Sharda Group of Industries was physically thrashed, garlanded with shoes and paraded around the city by the Maoist activists who accused him of framing an abduction of one of their members. He was later hospitalised.
Sharda has been accused of seeking help of Indian criminals to abduct his driver Raj Kumar Rajdhami who happens to be a member of pro-Maoist workers union.
Following the incident, business community in Biratnagar have shut down their activities accusing the administration and police of remaining mute spectator when Sharda was being paraded around the city.
In another incident, Kantipur TV reported that a foreign employment entrepreneur Sher Bahadur Raut has been abducted by YCL in Kathmandu.
Raut has been missing since last three days, according to his wife Kalpana Raut. She said that the Maoists have conceded that her husband is under their control. The Maoists claimed they were investigating case of cheating, she said. nepalnews.com sd Apr 10 07
I don’t agree with Wagle’s anger when he says that for 300 years the Pahadis exploited the Madhesis…it’s absurd. There are MANY MANY rich people in terai. If you work hard…you get rich. It’s simple. The exploitation of Madhesis is on both sides of the border…how rich are the people in UP and Bihar? Duh, with your argument.
If there is peace you get rich. Post 1990 we haven’t seen any peace and hence no progress and prosperity.
to be fair to wagle’s anger, noname has good logic but it seems as if his facts could be misleading.
just a couple of minutes of research in good old google and you can find out few things
Bihar and UP (who are both considered a little lawless) have over 100 times higher GDP than of Nepal. (http://uttarpradesh.takingitglobal.org/)
It also doesn’t seem fair to say that not having peace since 1990 has resulted in millions of Nepalis living in the same country, albeit in the south, without even citizenship certificates.
how can you claim that MANY MANY people in the terai region are rich when over 80% of the teraians do not even have the “legal right” to own anything in their own names due to the lack of the citizenship paper?
thank you
1) Compare the GDP of UP and Bihar with GDP of Pre 1990…I only want that.
Post 1990 all of Nepal is a disaster … not just Terai
2) When you do the comparison…take in mind the population of Nepal…the industrial ability of India vis à vis India as a big country. The population of Indian states
3) It’s absurd and weird to even compare the GDP of any Indian state (specially the big ones) with Nepal
There is no way you can compare anything of Nepal with India - specially when it comes to economics
4) If you really have to do some comparison…I would say do the comparison of HDI (Human Development Index)…pre 1990 Nepal with Pre 1990 Bihar, UP anad India
You will invariably realise that pre 1990 Nepal was a Heaven when India (specially Bihar and UP) were living hell on earth
And if you want to get citizenship, they are being sold for 3000 rupees now, please run and buy and have the opportunity to make ‘Naya Nepal’.
And yes, please, at the same time give Indian Ration card (you don’t have citizenship cards in India) to around 20+ million refugees or people from neighbouring countries who have lived in India or worked in India for last 60 years. Please ask your government to do that. The problem with Indians is that they think they are Correct while others are wrong. That’s the Arrogant attitude of Indians. They NEVER accept their mistakes and hence they never have any good relationship with anyone!
P.S.: I am not saying that people in our Nepal’s terai don’t have problems. I am just saying that YOU Indians should stop interfering in our matters and then we will solve our problems. You support the evils (SPAM) of country and evil comes back to haunt you.
Wagle,
Besides most of the statements you have responded to being silly, your response itself makes me confirm without any hesitation that you are a clown. I hope that it is’nt actually you Wagle under the blog name UWB-Wagle (15:22:25). I really sincerely hope. And the reason for this hope is personal, and it begins and ends with the question - If this is the aptitutde of the blog creator and implementor then what the hell am I doing participating? Same goes for several other seemingly smart bloggers, what are they doing here? Lack of participation would lead to a quick end to this comedy.
I read the first few “comments” and didn’t feel like reading the rest…. I think… on this post by Wagle, we’re talking about the only profitable business owned by Nepal Government…
…. wagle is not really concerned about “Nepalese not gettng Mobile Phones” … i dont think he even cares about it…. here, we’re talking about a government owned company that could make so much money…. just like VSNL in India… which then could be contributed towards developing TELECOM infrastructure in villages… … and the administration cares less…
… Businessmen are watering their mouth… looking at all the money that they could make, if they could take over Nepal Telecom… they even tried… but.. there were circumstances that stopped the takeover….. and I guess, it would be much better for Nepalese living in Kathmandu, in Villages… and overseas… if Nepal Telecom was privatised… atleast ppl living abroad could make cheap calls to Nepal…… as NepalTelecom would legalise VOIP system…. they would want to make more money… expanding their business Nationwide, even in villages…. save on taxes if they setup a new infrastructure in some remote village…. and so on……
….. and so on…
i guess that is what wagle meant to express with this post… not that he is worried abt… us getting to own a mobile phone!!