WTO membership essential

This is in response to Dr Shreedhar Gautam’s article “Democracy in danger” (December 25). The readers would have definitely preferred if Gautam had argued in favour of Nepal’s recent accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as the membership would go a long way in promoting free trade and help the country to better integrate with the global economy. WTO membership for Nepal is essential as the organization is a melting pot of open societies willing to trade more frequently and freely. As nations open up their markets, they tend to become more democratic, not less. Rules-based free trade, promoted by the WTO, helps strengthen democracy, and not vice-versa. Examples of Chile, South Africa, Chinese Taipei, South Korea and Mexico substantiate this contention. Besides, WTO’s promise of rules-based free trade offers the best hope for lifting millions of the world’s poorest citizens out of poverty, which should really be a priority issue for a country like ours, where about 42 percent of the population still live under the poverty line.

Hira Thapa
Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Cooly hot

Thanks to The Kathmandu Post for providing the real entertainment and light but juicy stuff in your Leisure page. One can relax reading the celebrity news and gossip--both national and international.

It has become easier for youngsters to have access to lifestyle of international celebrities, movies and hot gossips, especially those who keep interest in Hollywood. And also big thanks to irresistible pictures of Hollywood hunks and Bollywood beauties. News apart, tips for winter skin care and the benefits of yoga were also very useful. The paper has successfully blended current affairs with entertainment, which adds more value to the content, keep it up. But can we have more Nepali tit-bits as well?

Seema Aryal
Baneshwor