ATM card fraud

First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to The Himalayan Times and Annapurna Post for bringing to light the issue of ATM/credit card frauds happening in Kathmandu recently. Through your media I would like to bring to public knowledge the injustice done to me as well.

A large sum of money (Rs 1,35,000) was withdrawn from my bank account at Standard Charterd Bank. The sum was stolen in phases, from May to July 2007 at the rate of about Rs 50,000 at a time. An ATM machine on New Road was used to steal the money, whereas I have an account at SCB branch inside UN compound (I am a UN staffer). The card was never lost and never shared with anybody.

Upon request for investigation, I was informed that somebody who knows my pincode has withdrawn the money and there is a remote chance of any defrauding from the bank. The case was dismissed. I am surprised that SCB management is unaware of such thefts. Who knows how many people have been victims of such hi-tech crimes.

Manjula Rajkarnikar, UNICEF

Bio-fuel

Concerning the news report “Can bio-fuel bail NOC out of red?” (THT, Dec. 20), it would indeed be wonderful if more use of bio-fuel could be made — which would, in turn, not only help keep the environment clean and green but also, and equally importantly, bring NOC back in black. I feel not enough research has been done into exploring

alternative bio-fuel alternatives that could replace the traditional fossil fuels in Nepal. It is also no trivial matter that emission of up to 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be controlled through the use of bio-fuels.

Swatantra Basnet,

Lagankhel

Wrong way

Apropos of the news report “Differences defer 7-party meeting” (THT, Dec. 19), the political parties’ wrangling over the niceties in language while amending the Interim Constitution shows that they are interested only in furthering their petty political interests. Rather than forging a consensus to take the country along the path of peace and prosperity, each side is

insisting that its every demand be met. This is a wrong way to run the country.

Sailaja Subba, via e-mail

Will they?

There is no doubt that the “Maoists ought to change their ways for polls”. The main question is whether they will. First of all, the Maoists have little to gain from polls right away. Even if a completely proportional system were adopted, it is doubtful that they would win many seats. Second, going by the contradictory statements of their top leaders, it is not at all

clear that they are committed to the peace process. Prachanda is always high on rhetoric

but very few of his promises have been fulfilled.

Sachin Tandukar, Kavre

Warmer

Is it just me or is the climate really so much more warmer this year as compared to

previous winters? The bitter chill I associate with a typical Kathmandu winter seems to be absent this year. Perhaps the Department of Meteorology could shed some light on this?

Sabina Chhetri, via e-mail