Beldangi shootings

The news of the police opening fire at Bhutanese refugees leading to two deaths and many injuries at Beldangi, Jhapa, was shocking. The first shooting incident followed a heated dispute between the ‘so-called advocates’ of third country resettlement and those opposed to the idea. Nonetheless, that does not justify the mobilisation of cops inside the camps and subsequent killings.

Moreover, it was obvious that the refugees would protest against this brutal act. But an indefinite curfew was imposed in the area, paralysing the already hard life of the refugees. Is this justifiable? This looks like another conspiracy to thwart a peaceful movement for the repatriation of Bhutanese refugees. An impartial probe into the shootings should begin immediately and the guilty should be punished.

D Pokhrel, via e-mail

Rescue

The news report “Climber left to die on Everest rescued” (THT, May 28), concerning the rescue of Usha Bista from the “death zone” of Mt. Everest by two foreigners and a Sherpa guide, evoked two extreme emotions. One was of immense gratitude to the brave rescuers, the other of shame and hatred to the ones who left Bista to die alone. The Nepal Mountaineering Association should punish such inhuman behaviour. On the other hand, the rescuers deserve the adulation of all Nepalis.

Dorji Tsering Sherpa, Galfutar

YCL excesses

The Young Communist League (YCL) cadres beat up the participants of the Mechi-Mahakali Vidyarthi Cycle Yatra on Monday. The crime of the cyclists? They were chanting slogans

urging the YCL to stop its violent activities. It is undemocratic behaviour to rough up those who do not agree. Everybody has a right to hold a different opinion and he or she must not be punished just for that.

These are not the activities of a democratic outfit. YCL’s activities are undermining the country’s rule of law. It should improve its image by not foisting its views on others.

Saroj Adhikari, Biratnagar

Facetious

The news report “Mahat breaks into tears” (THT, May 29) was interesting. Did Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat shed a tear when, during the decade-long insurgency, a school teacher was pulled out of a primary school and hanged in front of his students, when an old man mourning the death of his father was butchered, when an ambulance carrying sick people was bombed? He certainly did when he saw the sad state of his own house, which was reduced to rubble in the course of Maoist insurgency.

During his visit to Nuwakot, Mahat also talked about “vision, commitment and honesty.”

May I ask our much-vaunted leaders (including Mahat) if any leader of any political party has shown us that they have vision, commitment and honesty? Not long ago, the government Mahat is a part of divided the universities among the political parties like pieces of cake. Recently, Maoist chairman Prachanda, during an address at Basantapur, said that the Nepali people were good, but leaders, not so. Having said that, has he himself done anything to correct the path of his errant cadres?

Kausik Nepal, via e-mail