Delicate balance

As the interim government prepares to unveil its budget for the new fiscal year, intense debates are going on in public. Among other important issues, the proposed 20 per cent

increment in salaries of government employees has taken centre stage. The eight-party alliance, it seems, is striving to please the bureaucracy ahead of the CA polls in November. Nonetheless, we have to acknowledge that the salaries of government staff are far below than the salaries of the employees of private companies. Hence this move is timely.

On the other hand, it is likely that the increment will cause a general price hike. If the increment in salaries results in price hike, the lives of poor farmers and fixed income group people working in the private sector will be seriously affected.

Therefore, it would be better if the government, instead of raising the salaries, provided extra facilities in kind. If not, the government should take measures to control the

immediate price hike so that the salary-increase would be fruitful for all Nepalis.

Rupesh R Khanal,

Economics lecturer,

NIST, Patan

Free press

In recognition of its immense power to form and shape news and views, the press is called the Fourth Estate in a democracy. But the Nepali media had to go through a terrible time in pre-Jana Andolan II days. Newspapers were censored and FM stations banned. But

after Jana Andolan II there was much hope that the press would be free from intimidation and would be able to print and broadcast truthful news. Yet not much seems to have changed.

The beating of journalists in Biratnagar during Madhesi uprising, kidnappings of news

reporters, threats and obstruction in media houses like Kamana Prakashan tell a different story.

The plight of journalists in the international arena is even worse. Over 100 media workers have reportedly been killed in the last six months. The bitter truth is that in many countries where the media are not so free being a journalist means putting one’s life in serious danger.

Dwaipayan Regmi,

Biratnagar

Shameless

The shameless act of a police sub-inspector looting $2,000 from a Bangladeshi national at the Tribhuvan International Airport, “Cop in custody for looting money” (THT, June 30), will taint the image of Nepal Police. Who will trust the security forces if incidents like this continue to happen? Hence the guilty person should be given a stern punishment to discourage such incidents in the future.

Ishwor Singh, Birendra Campus, Chitwan

Right course

It was with great pleasure that I read the news report “Dalai Lama’s envoys head to China for talks, (THT, June 29). The Dalai Lama’s non-violent and Middle Way Approach is a pragmatic course to resolve the long-standing issue of Tibet, a solution that guarantees China’s unity and stability, besides preserving the unique Tibetan identity.

I urge the Chinese leaders to come to the talks table for the solution of Tibet issue. They must also know that there is no hidden agenda as the Dalai Lama seeks genuine autonomy rather than independence for Tibet.

Nyima Gyalpo, Kathmandu