Referendum the best way

In a live interview with a FM radio in Kathmandu, Citizens’ Forum activist Dr Sundar Mani Dixit said that Members of Parliament are as good as purchasable commodities. He also

suggested that there is every likelihood that members of the Constituent Assembly could be bribed by the royalists. I support Dixit in that a referendum on monarchy versus republic along with the CA polls would be the best way to prevent the royalists from making any such moves. If elected representatives were purchasable, as Dixit claims, a referendum on a

republican draft constitution — characterised by the rigid provisions on human rights, full proportional representation of all the marginalised communities including the Madhesis,

dalits and women in all the agencies of the state, effective provision against corruption and impunity — would best ensure the democratic rights. I also agree the deputy high

commissioner of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Kyung-wha Kang that the culture of impunity must end.

V P Sayami, Kathmandu

Be wary

This is in response to the news report “Prachanda stresses SPA unity” (THT, Feb. 3). It is good to hear it from the Maoist supremo Prachanda that lack of unity in the SPA might provide reactionaries and regressive forces in the country with the opportunity to aggravate the situation in Tarai and sabotage the CA election. At this point in the peace process, not only the SPA members but all other democratic political parties should be wary of

anti-democratic elements that might be a potential threat to the CA polls.

Shiva Neupane,

Melbourne, Australia

Misleading

This refers to the news report “Pharmacists selling banned drugs in impunity” (THT, Feb. 1). We strongly disapprove of the word ‘pharmacist’ used in the news report, which was

actually meant to imply chemists who are actually involved in dispensing drugs. Pharmacists are professionals with specialised knowledge of drugs. In the context of Nepal, pharmacists are either engaged in research activities or are employed in hospitals. Others, who are involved in community services, have seldom indulged themselves in such unethical and illegal activity as has been mentioned in the article. On the contrary, they have been demanding that only pharmacists be allowed to retail drugs. The news report sends a wrong message to the public about pharmacists in the country. On the contrary, the pharmacists have been advocating change in the field of professional pharmacy practice in the country.

Baburam Humagain,

President, Nepal

Pharmaceutical Association

Shocking

A few days ago, I was shocked to hear one of the street vendors selling Pani Puris confess that he used liquid toilet cleaners to make it taste sour for a longer period. The risk it could pose to public health is anybody’s guess. Toilet cleaners are made of poisonous

components which can even take a person’s life. The authorities should strictly punish such unscrupulous vendors who play with public health, just to make more money.

Chhabi Neupane, via e-mail