Humiliating treatment:

Are women entitled to human rights and some dignity in Nepal? If yes, then let’s put the rhetoric of women empowerment into practice. The news report from Mahottari “Woman

paraded naked” (THT, July 10) aptly illustrates the place of women in our feudalistic society. According to the news, a woman was paraded naked in the village before being gangraped. This news shows that there is still the dearth of social activism to safeguard the rights of women. Whatever gets spoken inside the luxury hotels in Kathmandu is useless unless we see the results on the ground. The news also mentions the arrest of the culprits. They should not be set free under any condition. They should all get harsh punishment for their criminal act. This will also send a strong message to all that evil deeds will no longer be tolerated.

Babina Kharel, via e-mail

Dissolve HoR:

The members of Parliament are wasting their precious time bickering about petty issues while neglecting the more important ones. This is aimed at perpetuating the life of the revived House of Representatives (HoR). This goes against the agreement reached between the seven-party alliance and the Maoists. Those in the government tend to forget that the Jana Andolan II would never have been successful without the participation of the CPN-Maoist. The HoR should be immediately dissolved and an interim government, including the Maoists, should be formed. Such a government would function till the election to the constituent assembly. The United Nations, for its part, can monitor the activities of the two armies. Also, the MPs’ bid to paint the human rights defenders and the election commissioners in the same light as the erstwhile cabinet ministers, who suppressed the Jana Andolan, is disgraceful and only an attempt at settling old scores.

Vishnu Sharma, via e-mail

Neglected:

Although the country has undergone a radical political transformation after the Jana Andolan, the sectors that call for immediate attention have all been neglected. The political leaders seem busy serving their own ends and are fast forgetting their promises made to the people during the recent pro-democracy protests. One of the most ignored sectors is education. Tribhuvan University is still devoid of its top officials, which, in turn, is hampering its day-to-day functioning. This has delayed the publication of the university’s examination results. The students have had to suffer much from the government’s neglect.

Krishana Gyanwali, Tri Chandra Campus

Bad decision:

I was shocked to learn that French Captain, Zinedine Zidane, received the Golden Ball. This is wrong decision since Zidane misbehaved during the match. He was given a red card for headbutting the Italian defender Marco Materazzi. Zidane’s act broke millions of hearts and the French even have blamed him for the ultimate defeat of their country. How can he then be eligible to receive the Golden Ball award? It is surprising that the FIFA made such a bad decision. German midfielder Klose was surely a better contender.

Arjun Sapkota, Dhumbarahie