More aware

LETTERS

This is reference to the news report “ China slams UK PM’s Dalai Lama meeting” (THT, May 16, Page 7). We are seeing a trend in which world leaders are becoming more aware that it is in their interest to meet the Dalai Lama despite China’s strong objections. As he is increasingly received by world leaders, China is stepping up its anti-Dalai Lama campaign in Tibet. Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg together met in London on Monday with the Dalai Lama. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei angrily said the meeting has grossly interfered in China’s internal affair. Britain said on Tuesday that Prime Minister David Cameron is free to meet anyone he chooses. The Dalai Lama is an important religious figure and advocate for peace and the prime minister regularly meets such figures. The meetings highlight Beijing’s terrible human rights record, and remind the world that many Tibetans are deeply unhappy with China’s heavy-handed rule in Tibet. The Dalai Lama maintains that he does not advocate independence but wants a genuine autonomy that would allow Tibetans to

maintain their culture, language and religion under China’s rule but China remains unconvinced.

Nyima Gyalpo, Kathmandu

Difficult

This is with reference to the news report “Bandh to push food prices up” (THT, May 19, Page 12). These days due to uncertain bandhs, life of the common people have become difficult. Students are also victims as they have not been able to prepare for the board exams, and are compelled to walk long distances to attend the exams. The tourism industry is also adversely

affected by the bandhs thereby affecting the entire economy of the country.

Moin Uddin,Ghattekulo,Kathmandu

Question

This is in response to Ramesh Shrestha ‘s letter “Response” (THT, May14, Monday, 2012). He says that for long lasting harmony, identity based Pradesh is required. And Nepal is home to 102 groups and 92 languages. Now the question is how many indigenous and marginalized groups are going to have federal units named after them? And on which aspect we can refuse the naming of states for the remaining communities and ethnics who are so called

marginalized and indigenous? It seems that the prominent aspects of natural resources, water resources, ecological condition and roads have no status for Nepal in dividing federal states. Everyone should be given equal right. So in my perspective, the best way to divide the country has to be on the basis of the available natural resources, because those resources can be used by the state for the development and also the ecological condition for the proportionate

development, as it will be fair to every citizen of the country. And discrimination on caste aspects can be avoided as everybody can utilize the resources and work peacefully.Chandan Kumar Shah,

Kathmandu