Lessons to learn

All the Nepalis should be proud of Mahabir Pun who has bagged the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay prize for his outstanding contribution to community leadership. Four Nepalis have won the Maysaysay prize so far. Nepalis have won it two years in a row — last year it was Dr Sanduk Ruit. Nepal has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons in recent times. The success of Jana Andolan II thankfully punctuated the grim news coming out of Nepal, which was soon followed with the announcement of Dr Ruit’s prize.

And now, even as politicians continue to squabble about the loaves and fishes of office, Pun has given Nepalis a new ray of hope. The message is clear: Whatever may be the

political scenario in the country, hard work and determination always pay off. The whiners keep complaining about constraints while those with determination and a sense of greater responsibility towards the society charge on against all odds.

Shobhan S Khadka, Tokyo

Dual role

The news report “PLA fighters deserting 4th division” (THT, August 1) has once more spurred

speculation over the intent of the Maoists in making the Constituent Assembly polls a success. Maoists’ barely disguised intent of delaying the CA polls is supported by the sudden exodus of Maoist combatants from cantonment sites and sporadic Maoist violence. Some PLA soldiers are reported to have fled the camps after being tortured by their seniors. If this is true, nothing gives a clearer picture of the dual character of the CPN-Maoist.

Prabin Sharma,

New Baneshwor

Corruption

This is in reference to the news report “Verdicts weren’t affected, says panel” (THT, August 1). The question raised over the Supreme Court’s integrity has been settled for the time being after the panel investigating the alleged conversation between Rajesh Shakya and SC

section officer Baburam Dahal concluded that there were not sufficient grounds to prove that the final verdict in the case had in any way been influenced by the aforementioned

conversations. But there is no denying that corruption still prevails in the judiciary. The very fact that the SC has suggested departmental action against corrupt

officials is evidence enough. Indeed, if the judiciary wants to keep public confidence in it, strict action must be taken against all corrupt officials.

Chiranjivi Lamichane, Bhaktapur

Rights bill

Apropos of the news report “Wide berth for rights violators to fill public posts” (THT, August 1), the provision to bar human rights violators from holding public posts in the draft bill prepared by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is a positive move to discourage human rights violations. It is also commendable that the bill jointly drafted by PMO, NHRC and the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has provisions to compensate victims of rights abuse and make it mandatory for government authorities to implement recommendations of NHRC in rights violation cases. However, the draft should also have proposed more stringent measures against rights violators.

Suraj Chand,

Buddha Nagar