Larger perspective

Ganga Thapa’s article “Challenges to democracy” (THT, May 20) clearly elucidates the responsibility of political leaders for institutionalisation of democracy. The Maoists have a great opportunity to modernise the country through radical socio-economic reforms. But they seem to be saying one thing and doing the exact opposite. In a democracy, the voice of every section of society should be heeded for strengthening of democracy and economic

transformation. In this regard, Thapa’s write-up rightly urges the political leaders to think beyond their petty interests for the greater good of the country.

Devi Prasad Bhattarai, TU, Kirtipur

It’s poverty

I believe past conflicts in Nepal were the result of rural poverty and limited opportunities for

marginalised communities to access state power and resources. These, in turn, contributed to widening centre-periphery gap.

Neither the CPN-Maoist nor the government has been able to come up with concrete programmes for post-conflict recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction. I would therefore urge the likes of India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to raise these crucial issues. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist leader Prachanda, for their part, ought to devote more time to addressing these issues if a government of national unity and consensus is to emerge soon.

Surya B Prasai, Maryland, US

Important

Maoist Leader C P Gajurel’s view that details of federalism have to be carefully elaborated is

extremely important and should be a matter of intense debate between the stakeholders involved in building a New Nepal.

Federalism must not be the beginning of interstate confrontation that could result in declaration of fully sovereign nations.

Federalism and interstate disputes in India have never seriously undermined the country’s sovereignty as one single, undivided nation. Nepal could learn from the Indian example.

I would also like to urge all the 25 political parties represented in the Constituent Assembly to reach a consensus to write a foolproof constitution which has provisions for maximum personal liberty, economic liberalism, non-violence as national culture, communal harmony, and fully proportionate representation of all ethnic mother tongues, dalits and women in all organs of the state. Provisions that favour the best conditions for economic revolution and job guarantee should also be incorporated.

V P Sayami, Kathmandu

Get tough

The murder of businessman Ramhari Shrestha is a heinous act. It is strange that the concerned government organs have not thought it necessary to come out with a statement of what it has done so far and what it is going to do next.

Or are they waiting for the report of some commission which is yet to be formed? Not all

murders need wait for commission report for government action. It is a pity that the government has not yet realised that its hands-off approach is encouraging criminal activity.

Ishwari Pradhan, via e-mail