Surely it is time for the PM and his government to accept that they will be unable to meet all of the requirements for successful elections of local bodies by the May deadline. The UML wants the government to resign and hold elections without further amendment to the Constitution and on the lines suggested by the LBRC. But the assignment given to the LBRC was misguided and premature, and its incomplete and contested proposals should not be adopted. Instead, the government should firstly address the demands of the Madhesis and amend the Constitution to ensure adequate representation of the Madhesi, and then hold local elections, either to VDCs and DDCs or to new local bodies. If to the latter, then the number should be significantly greater than that proposed by the LBRC, and the district should be retained as the highest local political-administrative unit, with the number of Madhesi districts significantly increased to ensure parity with hill districts. Finally, the notion of federalism should be accepted for what it is - a misguided and un-necessary diversion from the task of building an effective popular democracy in Nepal.

Dr David Seddon, Pakhanjol  

Inhumane

It is really a matter of utmost shame and disgust to see how the Rohingya Muslims of Rakhine state in Myanmar are being forced to lead a horrible life of refugees after being tortured and displaced by the ethnic Rakhines!  While the hapless Rohingyas are being banished from Myanmar by the Rakhine fundamentalists because of their alleged Bangladeshi origins, Bangladesh is ruthlessly sending them back by branding them as Myanmar citizens! The sight of the Rohingyas, especially those of the children, getting dubbed as “citizen of none” and stranded on the high sea on overcrowded boats between the coasts of the two nations should be hang the heads of all to shame. The sons and daughters of this very world only have no right or place to settle and lead an honourable life in this vast globe! Yet the rhetoric of “international brotherhood” continues to reverberate in the horizon! Insulting fellow human beings who are all children of the Almighty! Yet how can the ethnic Rakhines commit such barbaric atrocities on the Rohingyas? Also we often hear the call of “Muslim brotherhood”. Now Bangladesh is an overwhelmingly Muslim country and the Rohingyas are also followers of Islam. Why doesn’t Dhaka come forward to welcome the persecuted Rohingyas? Thus, when it comes to self-interest, all dialogue of religious affinity vanishes into thin air!  As far as the Rohingya case is concerned, why don’t the mighty economies and “guardians” of the world, who announce sanctions at the drop of a hat against many nations, do it so against Myanmar? Because of its strategic location and mineral resources to be exploited to the full? South Africa was boycotted from all international forums due to its ugly policy of ‘apartheid’.

Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata