Rights violation

The curfew imposed in the Kathmandu Valley on January 20 only caused a feeling of suffocation to the general public the whole day. It caused tremendous problems to the people who had important business to accomplish or an emergency to meet. By restricting the

movement of the people, a fundamental right of the people guaranteed by the Constitution has been violated. And by cutting communication services, the government cannot achieve anything concrete, either. It is also unconstitutional to arrest and detain political leaders, who had planned a peaceful rally. This is a clear violation of their human rights. The curfew, ban on demonstrations, mass arrests and communication disruptions are all attempts to silence the people and to suppress all opposition.

Pabitra Malla, via e-mail

Take charge

It is very easy, it seems, for the people to blame the government for not taking any initiative to solve the various problems that exist in the country. It is the responsibility of the people to take charge of the situation by, firstly, electing responsible representatives, and, secondly, by making sure that the representatives are actually doing what they are elected to do. It is the people alone who have to take charge.

Shrid Dhungel, via e-mail

Bring change

This refers to the news titled “Party cadres defy ban, hold rally” published in THT on January 22. Is it the only aim of the seven-party alliance to defy the government bans? Is this the only thing that they are trying to achieve? The public is not interested in whether the parties defy ban or blast the government buildings, it only wants a change and the alliance is not working towards designing a concrete agenda to bring forth a change in the current situation.

Saurav R Tuladhar, via e-mail

Coincidence

With due respect to Gita Ghimire’s letter “Plagiarism” published in THT on January 19 about my Midway article “It’s a headache,” I would like to present some clarification since I feel

myself a victim of mere coincidence.

Some six years ago, I too had read Joan Didion’s essay “In bed” as a course requirement. Though it has been pretty long time since then, I can’t deny its fading influence on me to have prompted me to write an article on headache.

However, I find her accusation totally illogical and intended only to denigrate me.

Now re-reading Didion’s essay at least 10 times, I still can’t find any reason to blame me for plagiarism. Headache is not my personal possession and I guess I am not the only one on this planet to have it. In that article I was just trying to put forth my views on my terrible experience.

Though I have now found that the start of my article coincidentally resembles Didion’s essay, the middle and later parts are poles apart except the theme itself. I am sure no fair mind after comparing my article with Didion’s essay can say that I have copied the essay, as Ghimire has said. Moreover, what shocked me the most was her suggestion to totally give up writing. The motive behind this blame game has really perplexed me.

Dipesh Parajuli,

New Baneswor