Study tour for politicians

Professor Mana Prasad Wagley’s appeal to the political parties (THT, May 25) to stop wreaking havoc with children’s education and future and not use school closures as

instruments of furthering their political design is both intense and moving. But the parties have heard such appeals many times before. However, for want of popular base and appeal, they have to resort to this ploy, however dirty, cruel and immoral they may be. There seems to be only two solutions to this problem. First, the government should come up with necessary legislation to make such tactic a criminal offence and book the culprits. Secondly, the Western powers which seem to have lots of sympathies for these same parties should bring their leaders on observation tour to their own part of the world and show them that abusing children and their education for their own selfish ends is not a part of the civilised political behaviour.

Bihari Krishna Shrestha, Chakupat, Lalitpur

Untrue

Recent stories of Nepal being completely safe for tourists is not true. It is also not true that “no tourists have been hurt” in Nepal. Two Russian climbers were injured in a landmine

explosion and two Canadian tourists were robbed at gunpoint in Rukum recently. Every time anyone points a gun at someone else, there is a casualty. There may not be physical injury but there are, surely, psychological ones. Everyone in Nepal, no matter whose side they are on, should work to promote tourism. The Maoists should stop taxing tourist and start helping them. Regardless of who is in charge, tourism is our biggest asset. No other place in the world compares to Nepal’s top quality “great outdoors” and beautiful friendly people.

Steve Bailey, Parivar

Expeditions, via e-mail

Helpless

The alarm sounded by those at home and abroad has still failed to attract sufficient government attention. Thousands have been forced out of their villages and rendered internal refugees, hundreds of whom now live in Tundikhel (THT, May25).

Besides being distressed, some of them happen to be the worse affected by the on-going conflict. However, the public is alarmed at the blind eye the government has turned to these people. Had there been proper security, this agriculture dependent people would have easily gone back to work in their fields. They do not have any work in the city and are foraging a difficult living through employment in the unorganised sector. While the victims have knocked the door of the UN office, it is the responsibility of the State and the UN agencies to support them.

Bimal Shrestha, Lalitpur

FM news

This refers to the news “Government told to attend SC to discuss FM news issue” published in THT on May 26. The SC will hear on the ban on FM radio stations to broadcast news even after the lifting of the state of emergency. While this is good as a conclusion would hopefully emerge after the meeting, the issue of banning FM news has both advantages and disadvantages. Though the FM stations have been bringing all sorts of news to its listeners, they have not always been accurate. Thus some regulation and censorship is good. The authorities should weigh both the sides of the issue when they meet at SC.

Hari Bhandari, Teku