Armugam on Transboundary jurisdiction :
I think the whole of Col. Lama episode reflects the blatant and dualistic policy pursued by western countries. Would UK be equally aggressive in pursuing cases of US's over enthusiasm on the torturing front? I am sure that is "null and void" as that was "WAR" and they worked hand in glove in invading Iraq. And what about Northern Ireland in their own backyard and the treatment of IRA "terrorists" and Maze prison atrocities? Armugam....

Armugam on Transboundary jurisdiction :
I see the whole of Col. Lama episode as the blatent dualistic policy pursued by western countries. Would Brits be equally agressive forthright in pursuing       ....

Hare team on Transboundary jurisdiction :
Well said indeed. ....

Krishna on Transboundary jurisdiction :
What Baburam Bhattarai said is horrific indeed. That is why he is unsuitable for the public office, and must be ousted at earliest. We live in a democratic country, and thus we can and should exercise that right to oust him in the next election. However, your fear doesn't justify your point. Should the whole world look up for the people responsible for Apartheid in SA? Did the whole world wake up one day and decide to give that authority to UK? For your perspective, would UK arrest US army personnel in London if somebody made a complaint about that person's involvement in killings in Iraq war or Guantanamo bay or sth like that?As a Nepali citizen, it isn't wrong to be offended when such things happen to your national pride. One can proudly ask for fair trail for civil war crimes in Nepal, and at the same time, be offended when a person representing your country in a UN mission is being tried at courts in another country. There is nothing "pseudo-nationalism" about it. I don't understand why you'd call this jingoism. Maybe, being a person from a third word country, some inferiority complex is at play here. Trying to impress friends in the West? or the Western donors perhaps? I don't know. If the point of your article is to offend a section of Nepali society, then you've succeeded. Bravo.....

Deepak Kumar Bhattarai on Transboundary jurisdiction :
According to international public law principle of universal jurisdiction, any country can try for certain crimes including torture. ....

Tika Ram Pokharel on Ass for PM :
In Mahabharat, the two brothers go to rishi and ask what will this pregnancy produce? As one of the brothers was pretending to be woman and had Musal (log) as a part of pretended pregnancy. The rishi gets very angry by such faked move, and the  rishi's answer: "Timro Bansa nash garnechha (your clan will be destroyed by whatever comes out of this pregnancy." In Nepal, BRB made PKD preganant to fool Nepalis. PKD is in trouble because the unnatural pregnancy does not have real baby, but the MUSAL (log), and it is out to destroy their clan "Maoists." Now, PKD has to release that pregnancy, and it is going to be costly for him. So, he traveled to Thailand to abort it, but seemed he could not do it over there. Lets keep on watching when PKD will deliver the MUSAL.....

S on We shall overcome :
Mr Poudel, you are right in that in our culture women oppress women often as much as men do. The root of the problem here is a culture where men and women alike perpetuate patriarchal and often mysogynistic values. Rape, actual physical rape, is the most extreme and cruel form of the debasement of a woman, yet as Rubeena Ji mentions in this article and as I have experienced it on a daily basis myself, women are consistently and tirelessly mistreated in Nepalese society. From the needless catcalling and purposeful groping on the streets, to the countless complex traditions that propagate and solidify the "position" of women in their households and families, to the favoring of male students over female students in schools - we live in a culture that ensures that women know they are second to men. It is not overcoming men in particular, or the women or any identifiable social group, but in overcoming a culture that is not able to keep up with the underlying social changes that have occurred in Nepal. Nepalese women are more educated now, are taking on professional roles earlier deemed manly, are heads of families, are leaders in politics and civil societies -are opinionated. Change has already gained momentum and it is in realizing this, and raising generations of Nepalese to come, girl or boy, to respect each other as equals that we will truly overcome.   ....

Mukesh Baral on Transboundary jurisdiction :
As a student of Conflict Resolution, I believe cooloneal Kumar Lama was arrested under the UN convention against torture which Nepal and Britain both signed and ratified. Nepali goverment needs to see the law that it signed in 1991 before using the card of sovereignty. R2P is a norm not a law, but for R2P can still kick in to book Lama for his crime against humanity.....

Ujjwal Acharya on Transboundary jurisdiction :
Well argued piece, Prateek dai!I was one who felt that it was wrong for Britain to do it especially after letting him go through immigration. Although I believe culprits of all war crimes should be punished, I see it was not right for Britain to do it also because they will not have access to evidences in Nepal.But after reading your piece, I am actually neutral. I feel for our country to be on right path, there should be something like this so that leaders are pressured to set up TRC and prosecute war crimes. May be its an effect of PM BRB's speech today where he said 'attempt to prosecute murderers of journalist Dekendra Thapa will derail peace process' and 'no court can prosecute on cases of incidents during conflict period.'....

Henny on Transboundary jurisdiction :
Excellent and very timely piece (along with the editorial, "The War on Women") bringing together many different threads and highlighting what the media can, and must, do.  I value and commend Nepali Times for this in particular – its keen awareness of the role and responsibility of the fourth estate, and its commitment to fufiling that. Too often, violence against women is carried out or justified in the name of "culture", "tradition" or "religion".  The question is who wields the authority to interpret culture, tradition or religion – for patriarchal (mis)interpretations and misuse of culture, tradition and religion lead to control over women and their bodies, and denial of their rights and freedoms.  All harmful practices that deny a woman her full rights must be eliminated, no matter what its origin or justification. We can all contribute to stopping violence against women, even through simple actions.  Be inspired by these truly wonderful, not-to-be-missed, very short and extremely creative videos from the Bell Bajao campaign to stop violence against women.   :-)Click on the links below: The time Ring, ring Electricity The postcard The ball....

S Thapa on Transboundary jurisdiction :
It is easy but naive to get all high and mighty in the name of justice, human rights, and civil society and behave as if our national sovereignty getting compromised is not a big deal.  But not so easy to ignore the fact that the country doing the arresting - the UK - has a shameful history of colonialism, racism, and genocide, not to mention a spotty record of protecting Asian and Muslim minorities in their own country.  And they have a former prime minister, Tony Blair a.k.a. Bush's Poodle who participated in the illegal, ill advised, and murderous invasion, looting, and pillage of Iraq in 2003 that continues to this day.  If the Brits are oh-so-concerned about justice and so fair minded, they should demonstrate this by arresting Tony Blair & co and trying them as war criminals instead of picking on an army officer from a weak third world country.....

Yug on Transboundary jurisdiction :
I thought this statement by the author, "At the rate things are going, the Baburam government may turn tyrannical and if that happens we need an international cushion to save critics of his establishment." was over the top, until I saw Baburam on the TV news just now slashing Britain over the Lama detention and, even more, saying that the District Court shouldn't have arrested Maoist cadre for burying Dekendra Thapa alive. We, indeed, have a fascist prime minsiter.   ....

Justin on Transboundary jurisdiction :
Thank you for this opinion piece, one of the more level-headed stories I have seen in the media since this episode began. There is a deterrent effect on the Lama arrest, but it also highlights the complete asymmetry in transboundary pursuit if justice... ....

Gheo Chku Naran on India's second wind:
Will you please send this article to Baburam to read.....

Chirikazi on Ass for PM :
PKD wants the President's post as  Cesar  wanted Gaul.Col. Kumar Lama's arrest in UK has made his chances grim.He should immediately take the correct position and create the Truth and Reconciliation Commission etc etc and change his tactics. He should not put his right foot on the left shoes and say the world is wrong. This has been his way all the time. Correct himself or kaput. ....