Anxious Future for Nepal

MOVING around Kathmandu there are few outward signs of the deep crisis that the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal now faces.   A couple of sand-bagged machine gun positions outside the airport, an army patrol checking passersby near a bus stop.   However talking to a cross-section of people during his recent visit, David Turner got a vivid picture of the anxieties Nepali people have about the future of the country. 

A CATALOGUE of calamities have befallen Nepal.   In 2000 a famous Indian film-actor's miss-reported remarks about Nepalis prompted mob attacks on Indian tourists in Kathmandu.  Nepal's lucrative tourist business from middle class Indian holiday makers was left in tatters.   In June 2001 the drunk, frustrated & vengeful Crown Prince Dipendra massacred virtually the entire Royal Family.    Then September 11th.    Later that same month talks between Maoist rebels and the Kathmandu government broke down.    

MAOISTS now control large swathes of the country and often attack  police, civil administration, communications and more recently the Royal Nepalese Army.     Co-ordinated  operations    by both sides result in the slaughter of hundreds.  A fearful public rigorously observe Maoist ordered general strikes even in Kathmandu.

TOURISM is down by at least 50% this year compared with last year alone.  Many businesses have borrowed heavily to throw up hotel buildings now destined to remain unoccupied for many months to come.  Export industries like carpets and handicrafts are also severely damaged.   Both tourism and export industries were vital contributors to the Nepalese economy, both have been declared offically 'sick' enabling proprietors to seek some protection against bad debt.   Yet the government can provide little relief, it is virtually bankrupt itself.   A locked compound filled with government cars was pointed out on one trip across town.  

POPULAR opinion seems to accept that the Maoists will eventually come to government in Kathmandu.     The current generation of democratically elected politicians are universally regarded as corrupt &  incompetent.    All government agencies with the exception of the Army are also seen as endemically corrupt.    People would welcome change but are anxious on two counts.    

THE FIRST COUNT is that change will be accompanied by widespread violent disorder.  One facet of the Royal massacre tragedy is that it robbed the country of  the only figure with  anywhere near the status & credibility to broker agreements in the national interest.    The late King Birendra was loved and respected by ordinary people across the country, they believed that he listened to people's concerns and tried to act for the common good.    His conduct during the transition to parliamentary democracy in 1990 is cited as evidence for this view.     Before his death he was urging the government to conduct talks with the Maoists.     

THE NEW KING Gyanendra carries no such credibility.  Quite the opposite - people suspect that he was implicated in the Royal massacre on the basis of his absence from Kathmandu at the time of the killings and the late Crown Prince's supposed inability to shoot straight due to excessive drunkenness.   They reject the comprehensive, compelling evidence for the late Crown Prince's guilt which we have seen or read in this country.   They also know of the new King's corrupt business history  and the extreme liability that his heir, the new Crown Prince Paras be to the monarchy.   All around Kathmandu pictures of the late King and Queen can still be seen venerated,  pictures of the new King are largely absent.    

THE SECOND COUNT is that no-one knows what kind of government the Maoists would provide.    In the negotiations last year the Maoists were demanding constitutional reform - a republic in fact.   That seems a bit limited for Maoists!   Around the country their practises are rumoured to include lively tuning up of local government by identifying corrupt officials, tax avoiding business people or criminal policemen, threatening them with extreme violence if they failed to mend their evil ways, and delivering on the threat where necessary.  Also reported has been at least one  instance of a school set up with foreign financial support being ‘taxed’ by Maoists.  If a Maoist government takes over how will they rule?  Pragmatic?  Ideological? Totalitarian?  Corrupt?    Our suppliers have no idea what their policy on  the handicraft export business will be and can only wait and see.   Their anxiety is explicit. 

THE SLOW, incremental benefits which fair trade should bring to a society seem negligible alongside the national crisis that Nepalese people now face.    Every bit of business we provide is even more appreciated but the grim facts are that all we can do now is stand back and watch events unfold.

Variety - Spice of Life

FRAGRANT GARDEN Natural Incense is now available in 7 new options, including three different VARIETY packs.   Wild Orchid, Pot Pourri, Cinnamon &  Vanilla are the new individual fragrances, the variety packs have a variety of three:  Amber, Sandalwood & Nectar; Rose, Jasmin & Musk; Patchouli, Himalayan Cedar & Lemon Grass.

ALREADY there has been a good response to the Variety packs.   In fact we would like to add one more Variety pack to the range.  Do you have any suggestions what selection?  

PATIENCE will be required from those of you needing display stands however.  The new packs came with a surprise reduction in slot size, rendering our lovely new all-black stands totally useless.  ‘Discussions’ are in progress to problem at the moment.  

Goodbye Old Grey Beard

CHANGE is again afoot at WONDERWORLD HQ as we bid farewell to Dave Hogg.  After ten years under the WONDERWORLD yoke Dave has decided that his ripening years dictate focus rather than breadth in his business life.   Consequently he is withdrawing, amicably, to concentrate on his retail shops and on silver, and leaving Mr David Turner in sole possession of the WONDERWORLD wholesale hot seat.

FORTUNATELY Turner will not be left entirely to his own devices as he will have the assistance of the formidable Fantoosh duo, Jennifer Morgan and Martyn Street, who now provide warehouse and  despatch facilities in strategic Norfolk.  Callers are welcome.  In addition they will be seen on the road, around the country offering immediate van sales to those retailers who require it.

GRADUALLY all our stationery will reflect our departure from Crewe & the new principle WONDERWORLD contacts as one the home page.

Changes in Carriage Paid Arrangements

SILVER has always been a sub-business of WONDERWORLD financed and organised by Dave Hogg using our high quality, long term silver producer partner in Jaipur, India.   WONDERWORLD will continue to offer the silver from this producer in our catalogue and incorporating all the ethical/fair trade elements which we have outlined before.

HOWEVER the silver stock is now separate from the main WONDERWORLD stock in Norfolk and will thus be handled and despatched separately.    Therefore our carriage paid cut off of £ 200 order value will now be applied separately to silver and to the other WONDERWORLD stock lines. So you will be charged £6.00 carriage/insurance for silver orders under £ 200, and £ 6.00 carriage on other WONDERWORLD stock.

WE do understand that this new arrangement will discourage some of you from placing small  orders.   From our point of view it still makes sense the carriage charges we make only cover the postage, insurance and courier costs we incur rather than the fixed administration costs of any order, big or small.