LETTERS (Spotlight Weekly)

Congress Showdown

Despite the dissension within the ruling Nepali Congress, the contest between Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba for the post of party chief will go a long way toward establishing internal democracy ("Unequal Fight", December 8-14). Unlike in the past, the Congress party is today involved in promoting internal democracy. The forthcoming convention could prove to be a milestone in this direction if the party goes to the polls to select its chief and does away with the tradition of evolving consensus and nominating one candidate unopposed.

Biswa Man Shrestha
Bagbazar

Deuba's Duty

Though Sher Bahadur Deuba has decided to stand against his former mentor, it seems he still does not have the confidence to fight to the finish. In his interview, Deuba says Prime Minister Koirala should leave the party presidency in his favor. This statement is childish, coming from a person who has already become the country's prime minister. In a democracy, everybody has the right to stand in elections. Koirala, too, has every right to contest the election for the party presidentship. It would be in the best interest of both Deuba and his party if he stopped begging the post from Koirala. Besides, nobody is going to write Deuba off even if he fails to defeat Koirala. In fact, Deuba is in a win-win situation. If he wins the party presidency, so much the better. Even if he loses, he will have established himself as the foremost second-generation leader in the party.

Binaya Gautam
Dhobighat

Blessing In Disguise

The present turmoil in the Nepali Congress could be a blessing in disguise. Though it seems from outside that the party is riven by deep dissension, the fact is that internal democracy is gradually setting in. The recent district conventions of the party have started this process.

Ramesh Khadka
Balaju

Tales Of Nonchalance

Most of the SPOTLIGHT issue of December 8-14 is a documentation of non-performance: the issueless intra-Congress fight in the cover story, the Maoist-police brutality, the SAARC non-mover, refugee problem, among others. Having proved his incapability, a former prime minister plays crybaby to have leadership bestowed on him.

What kind of party is the Congress? Its workers were killed like flies when it was in opposition for 30 years, and its workers are selectively killed and tortured while it is in power. The sadistic leaders gleefully mow down the crowded streets of Kathmandu in their Pajeros, the tinted windows up and stereos blaring the latest rap music, blind and deaf to all the din of the countryside bleeding dry -- just like Nero fiddled while Rome burnt.

I really feel sorry for the hapless policemen who are abandoned in Siberian remoteness to die, not even knowing what for. Shouting hoarse about their inability to prevent massacres without the army, the leaders got the desired writ. Thirty or so policemen fight through the night with limited arms and ammunition as those responsible declare in the morning that it was impossible to send reinforcements. What right have they got to rule the country if they do not even have a contingency plan to deploy security forces at the remotest corner at short notice?

Will the Nepalese people never wise up to the real fact that perpetuating the violence benefits all in power? Those in Singh Durbar can loot the national treasury and transfer the wealth into their personal coffers, while anarchy prevails outside the capital.

On being informed that Nadir Shah had crossed the Khyber Pass, the Moghul emperor murmured in his alcoholic stupor, ìDelhi is still farî. The same nonchalance prevailed as Nadir stormed through the plains of Punjab, until he entered the gates of Delhi.

Now anarchy is knocking at the doors of Kathmandu -- all its schools are closed and extortion is rampant. Now everyone is preparing to tear up the constitution. Any constitution can be turned into a piece of trash if all, particularly those entrusted with implementing it, behave like they are above it.

Shukra Raj Acharya
Naya Bazaar, Kirtipur

Koirala Should Quit

If he has any sense of commitment and responsibility left, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala should now start keeping the promises he has been making (and breaking). He has been heading the party and the government for last so many years but is still to prove his skill, be it in improving the party organization or in promoting good governance. In the past, Koirala had promised to groom younger leaders and hand them over party and government responsibility. This is perfectly the right time he should be handing over the party leadership to Congressmen like Sher Bahadur Deuba. The former prime minister has already shown his ability to rally workers behind him and has been able to garner support from all the dissenting voices in the party. It would be proper for Koirala to make way for Deuba to lead the party.

Sudhir Basnet
Gongabu

Baseless Allegations

The allegations that smuggled Chinese goods coming through Nepal has flooded the Indian market, thereby jeopardizing Indian industries are totally baseless and unsubstantiated ("Imaginary Threat" December 1-7). The low price and good quality of Chinese goods have made an impact in markets as far away as the United States. In today's economics, consumers are supreme. If a consumer finds a particular product good, he will buy it regardless of its origin. The growing demand for Chinese goods in the Indian market should be understood from this perspective. Unfortunately, the allegations that Chinese goods are smuggled in a large quantity via Nepal have once again tarnished the image of our country. Definitely, smuggling is a menace that is damaging to both Nepal and India. In fact, there should be a joint effort to tackle this issue. But the manner in which the Indian media have portrayed Nepal in this whole issue will do nothing more than harm relations between the two neighbors.

Ram Kumar KC
New Baneshwor

Thought-Provoking

The interview with senior advocate Kusum Shrestha ("Constitutional Amendment Not Needed Yet," December 1-7) has raised some very valid points regarding the debate on amending the basic law. Shrestha’s contention that calls by some political parties for an amendment is not the outcome of serious deliberations is very true. The main opposition UML’s call for an amendment is faulty and ludicrous. Definitely, there can be no government or election government that is neutral. Even during the last general election, when the poll was held by a coalition government to which the UML also belonged, there were big allegations of rigging. So the party's claim that election governments could conduct free and fair polls falls flat on the ground. It is a pity that a responsible party like the UML is calling for changes in the constitution without studying what its long-term consequences are going to be.

Anil Sharma
Jamal