Republican constitution

The nation had to pay a heavy price for the dismal performance of the MPs during the past democratic governance. The same MPs are now in the restored parliament . The people have been let down so often that they no longer believe these same MPs can guarantee all democratic rights by enacting a fully democratic constitution.

Only the drafting of such a constitution will bring sustainable peace, secure democratic freedoms and uplift the status of women, ethnic communities, Dalits and Madhesis. To remain true to the people, the SPA constituents and the Maoists should immediately draft a republican constitution and hold a referendum on it by June next year. The new draft constitution should be prepared with the help of experts and the UN human rights office.

R Manandhar, Kathmandu

Baseless

I agree with Indian journalist Kuldip Naryar’s view, (“Nayar wants refugee issue settled fast”, THT, Dec. 14), that “further mishandling of the Bhutanese refugee imbroglio could set a wrong example in the entire South Asian region”. It seems Nayar is aware of the gravity of the situation.

Meanwhile, US ambassador to Nepal James F Moriarty has been quoted by Nayar as saying that “refugee camps are witnessing terrorist activism. They could affect north-eastern India. We are trying to help India.”

Perhaps, for the sake of better relations with this regional power, the US is ready to resettle the refugees in the US, but not to put pressure on the Bhutanese regime to allow them to return home with dignity. The terrorism allegation is baseless. If terrorist activity is to be traced to the refugee camps, it implies that at least some of the refugees are terrorists. The question arises why the US is inviting ‘terrorists’ to settle there in the first place. Furthermore, is it fair to label the refugees who have tried to make it back to their homeland ‘terrorists’? Can anyone provide proof?

Bhakta Raj Giri, Beldangi II, Jhapa

Japan visa

While denying applicants a visa, the Japanese embassy in Kathmandu hands the failed applicants a rejection slip that states: “The Embassy reserves the right to accept or reject any application without giving any reason thereof and no complaint in this regard will be accepted.” Don’t the applicants have the right to know why they are being denied visas? This policy is not fair, to say the least.

Narayan Khakurel, Kathmandu

No vacancy

I find the advertisement of Serving Minds inviting applications for over 200 posts in the “Appointments” section of THT every Wednesday. But, so far, not a single applicant I know has been hired. Why does it advertise, then?

Krishana Gyanwali, via e-mail

Visa fee

Harsit Gurung’s letter “US visa” (THT, Dec. 14) rightly says that the American embassy in Nepal issues student visas without well-defined criteria. It should make public its criteria so that the applicants may judge beforehand if they are likely to get a visa. It also needs to lower its exorbitant visa application fee.

Nishant Adhikari, via e-mail