Work together

Everyone is aware of the post-2006 political developments in the country. As regards the

recent developments since the accord between the then SPA and the CPN (Maoist), the whole focus has been on building consensus. It was fine at the beginning except that the Maoists on one pretext or other tried to create obstacles. The Constituent Assembly polls were held despite the delay. That started another phase in the country’s politics. Having become the largest party after the CA election, the CPN (Maoist) had the right to lead the government. And they did it.

Now, the situation has become such that the Maoists just do not care about consensus or the idea of working together with the other political forces sincerely, though the CPN-M leads a coalition. This tendency to think itself as the supreme force is not good. What we would like to see is that the present government achieves its mandated tasks successfully for which the government and the concerned parties have to work sincerely and not engage in show business.

Sukriti Sharma, via e-mail

No fooling

While the entire country is reeling from prolonged power cuts, there are sections of the society enjoying uninterrupted power supply. It goes without saying that this section lives around the areas where the rulers of the current regime in Nepal reside. The electricity being used by these leaders is effectively being subsidised through the increased power cuts amongst the very people that they are supposed to serve. It is an irony that these people came to power with the rhetoric that they would create a classless society by ending feudalism in Nepal. This is coming at the expense of the people who are trying to make ends meet by using the little electicity supply they have at their disposal.

It is high time the political leaders, especially the ones in power, showed some sensitivity to the sufferings of the people by acting with resolution and sincerity. It’s not easy to fool everyone about everything and think you can get away with it.

Sunil Sharma, Teku

Resources

An article by Rob Edwards, published in the January 10, 2009 issue of the scientific journal “New Scientist”, has warned that the Himalayen yew (Taxus wallichiana) is on the verge of extinction in Nepal. The Himalayan yew is used for curing cancer.

Medicinal plants are one of the most important resources of the country. I am of the opinion that the government should take immediate steps to preserve and protect these resources.

The government could lease the state-owned lands with the medicinal plants for the highest bidder on condition that they preserve and protect them. The royalty from these and other perennial and renewable resources would be enough to run the affairs of the state. The new Republic of Nepal should then be able to declare itself a “Tax-free and Strikeless Nation”.

V P Sayami, Kathmandu

New pact

This is in reference to the news “12-point pact obsolete: PM Prachanda” (THT, Jan11).I support the PM’s idea that abolition of monarchy, CA polls and declaration of republic were guided by the CPA. However, there is a need for a new pact to take the peace process to a logical conclusion.

Shiva Neupane, via e-mail