Grant political asylum

This is in response to the news titled "Rizal yet to get travel documents" dated March 17. It is unfortunate that Tek Nath Rizal, known as the father of the Bhutanese democracy movement, could not go to Geneva to attend the UN Commission for Human Rights meeting as the Nepal government could not provide him with necessary travel documents. He and two other Bhutanese human rights activists were invited by Lutheran World Federation. Nepal has not granted him political asylum till date for which he had applied in October last year. It sounds mysterious why Nepal deliberately fails to do so if it sincerely wants to solve the long protracted crisis. Granting Rizal the refugee status and travel document would not add any extra burden for Nepal, rather it would unleash Nepal from the burden of raising their concerns in the international arena. Who else could present the concerns and problems of the refugees better than Rizal?

Bhaktaraj Giri, via e-mail

Load shedding

It seems that Nepali people will have to face the problem of load shedding for many more years. The notice published by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) confirms this. The most awaited Kaligandaki hydropower project was completed last year. It had given some hope that it could help stop the problem of load shedding for few years, but all expectations were in vain. Students have to suffer the most due to frequent load shedding during study hours. This has caused great disturbance in their lives. NEA has said that the cause is the dry season and some problems in Marsyangdi hydropower project. But lack of proper management is also a reason. The NEA only thinks of selling electricity to India but is ignoring the needs of local consumers.

Manish KC, Dhulikhel

Pollution

Since the beginning of this week, people have been complaining about growing presence of a kind of small insects in the areas surrounding the Valley. This is due to pollution. I request the locals to stop polluting the streets. Given the rise in pollution, we could soon become victims of deadly diseases.

Sidhartha Shakya, Chhauni

Suggestion

I am a regular reader of this newspaper. I suggest that you provide more space for articles. Just one page of articles is not enough. Also, it would be good if you give chances to new writers as well.

Milan Bagale, Tanahun

Resentment

Though the political parties are fighting against the October 4 royal takeover, how can the public be assured that all these actions are directed towards public interest? All past deeds since 1990 show that our leaders have been engaged in personal aggrandisement and wealth amassing. The public now resent the parties. Unless the leaders pull their guts together to denounce their past misconducts, people will not be satisfied and will not trust them. The public is not going to be once again dragged into a conflict of power politics. Who suffers is not bothering the public any more because they are at the nadir, but it is the political parties themselves who have embraced corrupt and selfish people to guide their parties. No one can win the heart of the Nepali masses by rhetoric only as they have suffered enough at the hands of the politicians. Only selfless deeds can win the populace back. Are there any leaders who understand the public resentment?

Kirkaf, via e-mail