LETTERS

Save bank notes

On the tenth auspicious day of the Dashain festivities, Vijayadashami, which is now only three days away, the senior members of the families and relatives put tika on the foreheads of their juniors and jamara on their heads and give blessings. This tradition has been in practice since time immemorial. However, the crisp bank notes, which Nepalis especially withdraw from the banks for the purpose, get smeared with the colour of vermillion. I would like to advise all the Nepalis to keep the bank notes clean and if possible sheath bank notes in plastic so that they don’t get smeared with the colour of tika. Meat shops, oil vendors and auto mechanics also should use clean hands to count the money so that the notes can be kept clean. Moreover, bank staffers should abstain from writing on bank notes and using staplers to bind them.

Additionally, the Central Bank should impose strict regulations so that the nation can save the huge amount spent on re-printing bank notes.

Dipak Tuladhar, Durbar Marg

Abductions

This is in reference to the news report “One more city child kidnapped, slain” (THT, Oct. 16). The number of child abductions and murders in the capital has gone up in recent days. Just in the week gone by, two children were murdered after abduction. Many other children are still missing. Child abductions have proved to be an easy medium of extorting money for the kidnappers. Although the police have been able to nab the culprits in some cases, it looks as if proper actions were not taken against them. The security agencies need to be stricter and cast their net wider to catch the the criminals.

Abijit Sharma, via e-mail

Shocking

Apropos of the news report “One more city child kidnapped, slain” (THT, Oct 16), it is shocking to know that yet another child has been murdered in the capital just within a week. The incident has once more raised the question about the performance of the

security agencies. If those in the capital are so unsafe, it is unrealistic to expect that people in other areas of the country are secure. The government needs to take strict action against the culprits and ensure that law and order is maintained throughout the country.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne, Australia

Middle path

This refers to the news report “China calls on Bush to cancel Dalai Lama meeting (THT, Oct. 17). The Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama and US president Bush’s decision to attend the award ceremony reflect America’s serious concern about the deteriorating situation in Tibet.

The Dalai Lama has long been campaigning for meaningful autonomy for the Tibetans, but China has been dragging its feet and calling him a separatist. However, China’s policy to limit his international influence has failed. He has pursued a mutually beneficial middle path, which is a great political step forward to solve the Tibet issue.

His policy will serve as the basis for guaranteeing the unity of nationalities and for social stability. The 17th Congress leadership in China should take this historic opportunity to begin formal talks while the offer is still on the table.

Nyima Gyalpo, Kathmandu