Bring them to book :

Immersed in drafting the Interim Constitution and negotiating terms for an interim government, the SPA government has not found the time to bring those guilty of acts against the Jana Andolan II to justice. The way things are going, the government is unlikely to take up the issue soon. The civil society and the family members of those killed, injured or missing have been putting pressure on the government to punish the agents of the erstwhile oppressive government. No less a figure than the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, has said that those guilty of attempting to suppress the April movement should be punished. If the government fails in this task, regressive forces will be encouraged to disturb the peace. Even the Maoist activist who allegedly shot dead a boy in Lahan recently in a dispute with the bandh organisers should be punished if he is found guilty. The Maoists are yet to come clean: The status of 23 persons the Maoists abducted in Bardia remains unknown.

Yadav Khanal, via e-mail

No mercy:

Those royalists who are reportedly trying to disrupt the CA polls by instigating violence in the Terai must get stern punishment, if proven guilty. All detainess have a right to proper treatment under the law, including those royalists who were apprehended on January 29 in connection with the current unrest in the Terai. But full investigation into their alleged links with the unrest should be undertaken. They do not deserve mercy. At the same time, the eight-party alliance should show more seriousness about the Terai crisis.

Arun Bhattarai, Virginia, USA

Hypocrisy:

As regards the report “PM, Prachanda at odds over talks with JTMM” (THT, Jan. 25), I was surprised to read Maoist chairman Prachanda refer to the Janatrantik Terai Mukti Morcha(JTMM) as “orchestrated by the palace and Hindu fundamentalists”. He added, “I don’t see any significance in holding dialogue with an organisation that has no capacity and strength of its own”. It appears as if the Maoist supremo has forgotten his own party’s past. Everybody knows the result of the failure of successive governments to address the genuine Maoist demands. The Maoists have no right to carry arms and shoot at people after signing the peace accord. On the other hand, I appreciate PM Girija Prasad Koirala for his readiness to resolve the crisis through talks.

Birendra Kanu, via e-mail

Kudos:

Kudos to Sambhidhan Archarya for his Midway “Cruel distance” (THT, Jan. 29). People of some castes in Nepal tend to dig up the history of all their relations, even distant ones, before

deciding on any marriage proposal. On the other hand, some castes or ethnic groups have the custom of marrying their cousins. In Burundi and some other parts of the world there is even the practice of having incestuous sex before going hunting. Hence, much depends upon one’s culture and tradition. Acharya echoes the view of many youths in our country who sometimes have to observe cultural norms which may not have a logical basis.

Komal P Dulal, Rehovot, Israel