Presidential system :

This refers to Aditya Man Shrestha’s article “Fluid situation” (THT, Sept. 12). It is the height of frivolity to suggest that the government’s executive branch be relocated in Narayanghat, Parliament in Mahendranagar and the Supreme Court in Biratnagar or Jhapa.

Since he recommends US presidential system of government in Nepal, he has some explaining to do as to why the US Congress does not function from Kansas City, White House from Vermont and the US Supreme Court from Alaska. And the idea of installing a presidential system in Nepal can at best be termed naive given our past experience. If the mundane priorities of lawmakers are not met, a Nepali president will be impeached in no time. Therefore, we need to delve deeper into what seems obvious at the surface.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha,

vie e-mail

Biased :

I believe your editorial “The price of frame” (THT, Sept. 8) is against the spirit of Jana Andolan II. It aims to perpetuate the stateless status of the Madheshis while cosying up to the

traditional power elites of Nepal (the Khas rulers) who exploit the natural resources of Madhesh but do nothing to further human and institutional development of the region.

Madheshis cannot be treated at par with foreign nationals from Tibet, Bangladesh and Bhutan and to label them Indians can only hurt their sentiments. Indeed, these folks have been bona fide Nepali citizens since the time of Raja Janak and Siddhartha Gautam. If the Madheshis continue to be disfranchised, they will be compelled to launch a counter-disenfranchisement drive.

S Thakur, New Baneswor

Doubts :

The PM’s resolve to safeguard the interests of the paralysed institution of monarchy has given rise to fresh doubts. During the April revolution, the people’s disdain for the institution was quite evident. It’s hard to understand why the NC is hell-bent on saving the King. The government should rather focus its attention on making the peace talks a success.

Rupak Sapkota, Syangja

Growth rate :

Despite high oil prices, China and India are expected to push up Asia’s economic growth this year too. While China’s economy grew at 10.9 per cent in six months till June, India’s growth was 7.8 per cent in the same period.

However, Nepal’s GDP growth in 2006 has been a meagre two per cent. Our foreign debt has soared to Rs. 243 billion till July 16, 2006. This makes up 40 per cent of the total GDP. The debt servicing for 2004-05 was about eight per cent; it has now climbed to nine per cent. While the economic growth of the two Asian giants can be expected to continue, Nepal is yet to reap any benefit from the regional renaissance. But the situation would be quite different if Nepal could enter into meaningful negotiations with India.

Ramesh Neupane,

Mahankal

More news :

I would like to request THT to add more reports. Besides, it would be advisable to give more space to the letters, the column which makes public the views of a wide cross-section of people.

Hira, via e-mail