Nepal’s core obligations:

This refers to the article “Equal citizenship rights for women sought” published in THT on March 1. Nepal being a UN member has acceded to core rights instruments that call upon it to protect the Legal Rights of Women and Children, without any bias. In connection with the promulgation of National Treaty Act in 1990, Nepal has assumed binding obligations to respect conventions like the Rights of the Child, the Optional Protocol on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The application of these instruments would liberate thousands from injustices and pave the way for their development. There are more than one million people in Nepal, including Bhutanese and Tibetan refugees, who are residents for more than a decade in Nepal and are denied citizenship, birth certificates, marriage and death registration rights, and have become victims of injustice due to such discriminatory legislation. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees advocates the protection of rights of such women and children, many of whom are voiceless and have to struggle for their daily survival.

Abraham ABRAHAM, UNHCR Representative in Nepal, Kathmandu

US role:

I was struck by many references to the devil in THT’s editorial page of March 9 and impressed by Dr Prakash C Lohani’s incisive analysis on the likely scenario should constitutional forces not reconcile their differences through dialogue and compromise. From US ambassador Moriarty’s statements; President Bush and PM Manmohan Singh discussing Nepal in India; Elisabeth Millard’s comment that China too will be taken into confidence on Nepal, and Donald Camp’s presence to deliver the US policy on Nepal to King Gyanendra, we note that it is quite clear that Nepal’s geo-startegic importance has shot up. Let’s hope that for a peaceful and democratic Nepal (that is Camp’s mission here) that he, for the region’s stability and secuirty, will also confer with India and China to accept Nepal as a ‘zone of peace’; encourage US investments for Nepal’s hydro-power and propose that ex-president Carter be sent as peace emissary to help Nepal as facilitator and mentor to the constitutional forces to reconcile their differences. We also expect the US to restart its supplies to the secuirty forces.

Madhukar SJB Rana, Jawalakhel

Unfair:

Fares of buses and micro-buses have shot up dramatically. The minimum bus fare is Rs. 9. But vehicles from Samakushi and Balaju routes have fixed their fare at Rs. 10 for a 5-km distance. Can’t this monopoly by some syndicates be checked? On an average, a Nepali earns Rs. 50 a day but he is forced to spend almost 40 per cent of his income on transportation. Is this fair?

Suresh Adhikari, via e-mail

Misuse:

Holi is meant to foster friendiship and not for breaking ties. Water balloons are thrown at strangers. We should save our tradition of using abir only and desist from using harmful chemicals and colours.

Sushil Paudel, via e-mail