Carter visit to Nepal

Former United States president Jimmy Carter, during his recent visit to Nepal, said that he would urge Washington to start talking to the Maoists. If Carter has such close ties with the American administration, I would like to know why US ambassador James F Moriarty was nowhere to be seen during Carter’s entire visit. Does this not signify that the US government wished to have no association with Carter’s visit and his utterances regarding the Maoists? We should not forget that Carter was a Democratic president, while a Republican occupies White House now.

Besides, the Carter Centre is nothing more than an NGO and Carter’s statements do not reflect the policy of the US administration. I don’t understand why the Prime Minister had to meet him twice and why the Maoist leaders seemed overenthusiastic about the statements coming from a person who has virtually no authority.

Dr Pravin Rajbahak, Birgunj

Needless

I wonder why Maoist chairman Prachanda had to display such humility before Carter, while urging the latter to use his good offices to have the US terrorist tag on their heads lifted. Is he not aware that the Maoists are slowly emerging as the best option for the Nepalis? Why then humiliate both the Nepali people and the Maoists by bowing down before the United States? This may well indicate the fickle nature of the Maoists.

On the other hand, Prime Minister Koirala seems to have gone down in the good books of Carter. What they discussed exactly is as yet unknown. The true impact of Carter’s visit will only be clear in the future. If Carter’s visit bears some fruit for Nepal and the Nepalis, then Nepalis will be able to describe it as a successful visit.

Prakash Sparsa, Jhiljhile, Jhapa

CA polls

CA polls have now been shifted to November-end. The Eight-Party Alliance (EPA) seems quite happy about the state of affairs. But the alliance constituents should keep in mind that they have a tough job in the days leading up to the poll date. Only if they are well-prepared can free and fair elections take place within the stipulated time. Postponing polls time and again has created a negative public impression of the EPA. If the EPA fails to conduct elections in

November as well, the Nepalis will never be able to forgive them. So they better start getting really serious.

But the Alliance, ignoring their own faults, has made it a habit to shift all blame to the palace.

How can they blame the monarch for their own failure to set a poll date, for instance?

Dwaipayan Regmi, Biratnagar

Tamang’s rise

Concerning THT Sunday edition’s special report, “Darjeeling’s Prashant mania” (THT, June 17), everyone in town seems to be talking about Prashant Tamang, the Indian Idol No 3 finalist from Darjeeling. As the show is nearing its end, it has brought a lot of excitement in the major towns of West Bengal as well as in Nepal.

Indeed, Tamang’s melodious voice has not only impressed the judges but also won the hearts of all the regular viewers of the show.

Birat Lama, via e-mail