Match words with deeds

This refers to the news report “We’re dead serious about CA polls, Maoists tell China” (THT, Dec. 4). Though Maoist supremo Prachanda expressed his commitment to hold the CA polls with the visiting Chinese leader Wang Jianrui, the recent actions of the Maoists have hardly been encouraging. The Maoists have time and again threatened to thwart the CA election if the government tried to hold it without full proportional electoral system and declaration of republic. Moreover, there is no point in Maoist leaders expressing their readiness for the polls with foreign leaders. It is the responsibility of the SPA, including the Maoists, to hold the CA polls at the earliest.

Shiva Neupane, Australia

Privatise

Apropos of the news report “Petroleum prices to peak, NOC buried in dues” (THT, Dec. 4), the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) does not only owe money to IOC but also to many domestic banks. NOC has been operating at a loss for years now, while the government authorities have kept mum on the irregularities within. If NOC can’t supply and manage petroleum

products, it would be advisable for the government to close it down and give the responsibility of oil distribution to private companies.

D Gurung, via e-mail

Bleeding NT

This is in reference to the news report “Dirt cheap foreign calls bleed NT” (THT, Dec. 3). Though the report states that Nepal Telecom (NT) is losing money due to easy availability of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VIOP) service, it is a fact that NT hasn’t been able to improve its services despite a huge difference in the cost of calls. On the other hand, due to low bandwidth of internet VOIP, calls are only useful as one-way communication, which leaves callers no other choice but to rely on ISD network.

Wangwang Tamrakar, via e-mail

Appreciable

This is in reference to the news report “Nepali Congress decides not to yield an inch” (THT, Dec. 4). It is appreciable that the Nepali Congress hasn’t given in to pressure from the

leftists who have been

demanding full proportional electoral system and

declaration of republic by the parliament. Also, since the interim constitution has to be amended within the next 12 days to reschedule the date for the CA polls, the political parties should instead prepare themselves for the election.

Manit Deokota, Kathmadu

Unreliable

Apropos of the news report “Customers getting fed up with NT’s mobile phones” (THT, Dec. 4), while Nepal Telecom (NT) has been increasing the number of mobile phone users every year, it hasn’t been able to maintain the quality of its services. For NT to remain a reliable service provider, it should improve its connectivity.

Shikhar Dahal, via e-mail

Strikes

Frequent strikes and bandhs have not only affected normal life but also educational, business and other sectors. Many patients have lost their lives for lack of transportation during bandhs. We therefore request the political parties not to call such bandhs in the future.

Suresh P Mandal, Lalitpur