People are no fools:

CPN-UML general secretary M K Nepal has just made a profound discovery: Joining Deuba-led coalition was a mistake (THT Aug 16). But why did it take him a year and 40 days to arrive at this conclusion? The party joined the Deuba-led coalition on July 5, 2004, only after a month-long haggling over the 43-point Common Minimum Programme (CMP) whose wishy-washy contents made it seem more like a ploy to “Claim Maximum Portfolios” (CMP put otherwise). After having enjoyed power and pelf with Deuba, its earlier benefactor in duty-free Pajeros too, as long as possible, it now cites palace’s conspiracy, Deuba’s lack of political will, Maoists’ refusal to talk and the continued agitation by the four parties as reasons for its failure to deliver. However, most of these problems should have been evident in the very first week of being in power, if not earlier. So, why did they remain in power until they were ousted after 198 days? Externalising blame for indiscretions they deliberately committed has been one of the hallmarks of our political parties. Thus, instead of plumbing new depths in misleading people, the parties should come out clean before the people and make necessary reforms within, however painful, including getting rid of the corrupt on priority basis.

After all, one cannot fool all the people all the time.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha, Lalitpur

Desperation:

This is in reference to the news titled “UNHCR warns Bhutanese refugees not to cross the border” published in THT on August 13. This is the fifteenth year of the refugees’ stay in exile in Nepal, and despite the fifteenth rounds of bilateral talks between the governments of Nepal and Bhutan, the refugee problem remains unresolved. The situation is only getting worse and it seems that both Nepal and Bhutan are unable to resolve the issue amicably. When this neglected lot do not see any hope of negotiation, it is normal to react in various ways. The authorities should understand that the refugees are frustrated with their lives and can go to any extent to fight for their rights. Thus New Delhi should not act as a barrier on this issue if refugees now want to take bold steps to go back to their motherland.

Om Prakash Adhikari, Sanischare, Morang

Irresponsible:

At a time when “total democracy” is being defined as one “without monarchy”, it seems totally misleading to report that participants at a public programme, held to discuss total democracy and organised by civil society, “turned anti-monarchy and chanted anti-monarchy

slogans after riot police tried to disrupt the programme.” If people organise such programmes, does it not mean that the organisers and participants are already anti-monarchy? So, it is meaningless as well as misleading to say they turned anti-monarchy afterwards. In addition, organising and participating in such programmes is in itself an unconstitutional move, as the Constitution of Nepal 1990 clearly provides that Nepal is a country with ‘constitutional monarchy.’ Therefore, it is not surprising that the police tried to

disrupt this unconstitutional gathering. The Nepali newspapers in particular and the media in general should be careful not to convey a wrong message while reporting. And the people should refrain from unconstitutional moves.

A K Joshi, Kathmandu