This is with reference to the news story “JICA signs project on earthquake research in Nepal” (THT, March 22, Page 2). Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed this project with the Ministry of Industry and Department of Mines and Geology on Monday entitled “Integrated Research on Great Earthquakes and Disaster Mitigation in Nepal Himalaya”. The main reason for reaching this understanding with the government of Nepal is to carry out extensive research on earthquakes and ways to mitigate the damage likely to be caused by earthquake in the future. Japan has knowledge and expertise in this area which will be beneficial for Nepal if the research is sincerely implemented. Japan is the most earthquake prone country which has developed the technological know-how to protect people and build infrastructure resilient to natural disasters. We can also learn a lot from the Japanese expertise. Many people died in the April quake last year because of poor infrastructure and poor preparedness to deal with the natural disaster of such a large scale that occurred after a gap of 80 years.

Pratik Shrestha, Kathmandu

Selfishness

The news story that “Different party lines hindering party unity” (THT, March 22, Page 6) is interesting to read. The fractions and repeated fractures in the party lines are not just due to difference of opinions and not at all due to foreign influences. The fractions are due to the fact that the so-called people’s parties have transformed into beneficiary parties that cater to party loyalists, party cadres, leaders and their families, close aides and beneficiaries. The parties who do not feel the pain of the people spending their nights under the open

sky in non-humanitarian conditions with no future and hope in spite of billion dollars as aid from overseas are not concerned about the non-use or misuse of the funds by those in authority. The fractions in the party line are because there are two standards of such politicians — one of socialism and sacrifice for the poorest of the poor citizens and the other of capitalism following which cash flows into secret bank accounts overseas for securing their bright future. While people in the country are starving or dying, such politicians are living in luxury. While the poor children are being deprived of education, our politicians send their kids to expensive English medium, residential schools, including those across the border. The parties are fracturing because like the mythical dragons they exist with multiple heads spewing fire and venom, with one head dividing people and others letting people down. No one is fracturing the parties other than the top leaders for their selfish benefits. I wish to say that they care for nothing about Nepal and ordinary

Nepalis.

Saikat Kumar Basu, Canada