Fight against corruption

This is in reference to the news report “UML’s Youth Force courts controversy after graft slur” (THT July 2). Undeniably, there is rampant corruption in the government bureaucracy. However, the violent act of the newborn wing of the CPN-UML, Youth Force (YF), cannot be justified on any grounds. It would have been praiseworthy if the Force, instead of

manhandling the clerk, had handed him over to the authorities to bring him to book. Their actions would have been hailed had they not dealt with the clerk violently and taken law into their own hands.

Nevertheless, it would be appreciable if the YF continued its crusade against the corrupt and handed them over to the authorities.

Madhav Humagain,

via e-mail

Irresponsible

Apropos of the news report “What’s broken” (THT, July 2), Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s environment management chief’s irresponsible reply that he is not aware of the

deteriorating condition of Maitighar Mandala speaks volumes about the negligence of KMC officials. For the last few weeks, heaps of garbage have been lying strewn in the streets

of the capital. The streets are in a pitiable state; hawkers continue to encroach on the pavements; traffic is mismanaged; and world heritage sites are lying in a decrepit state. I am sure that the tourists who have come to visit Nepal are having a nightmarish experience.

Unless the authorities act responsibly, a ‘healthy, clean, and green Kathmandu’ will only

remain a pipe dream.

Ram Chaudhary, via e-mail

Parallel

This refers to the news report “UML’s Youth Force courts controversy after

graft slur” (THT July 1). It is understandable that the UML, which had to bite dust in the Constituent Assembly polls, is now following in the Maoist footsteps to revamp its public image. It must be remembered that the Maoists’ youth wing, the Young Communist League, has had to face harsh public criticism for taking law into their own hands, instead of being praised for their act of moral policing. Under the rule of law, no group or

political party is expected to run parallel administration and dispense street justice. Have we not had enough of YCL’s excesses?

Binod Shrestha, Lalitpur

Big cats

This concerns the news report “Big cats in big trouble” (THT, July 3). According to the recent

census, only about half a dozen tigers are left in the Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. The finding suggests that the government is not concerned about the dwindling number of tigers in the wildlife reserves of the country. Instead, the minister has blamed security agencies for

involvement in poaching. In fact, administrative officials are easily bribed and poachers enjoy the protection of higher authorities. On its part, the government has not been able to take strong punitive action against the notorious poacher, Ian Baker. The government should make

local people aware about conserving wild animals and take strict action against poachers. Measures like “Tiger Conservation Action Plan” are bound to fail if the government does not

take effective conservation measures.

Rajesh Joshi, via-email