LETTERS (Spotlight Weekly)

Don't Disturb

Your cover story on the dispute in the All Nepal Football Association was very interesting (ANFA: Tragic Foul Play, November 10-16). The story showed how people in power manipulate purely apolitical organizations for personal gain. It is a shame that a minister belonging to the country's premier democratic party promoted such an undemocratic act in ANFA. Don't interfere in the day-to-day activities of an important sports organization like ANFA. I hope the minister realizes his mistake and allows Thapa to run the organization.

Jeevan Lama
Baudha

Wrong Decision

How Geeta Rana was chosen to lead the ANFA ad-hoc committee is a mystery. Rana may be a good principal of a boarding school, but that does not mean she is qualified to head such an important sports organization. There needs to be a serious debate on who appointed Rana as president of ANFA and why. This controversy shows that experience and qualifications are secondary to political patronage. Rana may be able to produce better results if she were appointed to run an educational institution, perhaps even Ministry of Education.

Subhas Rai
Jawalakhel

Right Choice

The decision of the ANFA executive committee to appoint Geeta Rana as a president of the ad-hoc committee was correct at a time when some individuals led by Ganesh Thapa tried to manipulate the association for personal gain. Rana will now have the tough task of cleaning up the mess in the association. As a successful school principal, I believe, she will achieve her goal to push ANFA towards greater professionalism. I would like to congratulate Rana for her success. As a woman, I am proud that ANFA is headed by woman.

Poonam Shrestha
New Road

Delink Politics And Sports

It is very unfortunate that ANFA has become so politicized. As a sports organization, ANFA should be allowed to function in a sportsmanlike spirit. If ministers want to appoint their cronies, they have many other areas. We saw the politicization of sports organization during the Panchayat days when almost all heads of the national sports associations were chosen on the basis of their political affiliation. It is unfortunate to see the practice continue even after the restoration of democracy. It is important to delink politics and sports to promote professionalism.

Nutan Thapa
Naxal

Superficial Interview

Your interview with former chief justice Bishwonath Upadhyaya (November 3-9) was very superficial. He did not say anything about his controversial decision of 1995 to reinstate the House of Representatives. By accusing groups on the extreme left and extreme right, he only tried to avoid taking responsibility for his action. We don't need his lectures on the corrupt practices of political leaders. The real question is what he would do to set things right. His record has exposed the extent of his commitment towards liberalism and freedom. He even sent a senior journalist, Harihar Birahi, to jail for seven days for publishing a cartoon. I would like to know whether Upadhyaya now realizes that that decision was a mistake?

Madan Murari
Maharajgunj

Amend The Constitution

I don't agree with the arguments put forward by those who are against amending the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990. The constitution is not a rigid document. It needs to be amended in keeping with the realities of the time. At a time when the country is facing so many problems because of lapses in the constitution, amendments to key provisions are vital to effective governance. It is natural for people to always demand change. If people really want the constitution amended, then that should be done. I agree with the views expressed by UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal in support of amending the constitution.

Sudarshan Sharma
Lagankhel