The important role played in getting the peace process started by Narayan Singh Pun ("Narayan Singh Pun", #136) must not be underestimated, nor undermined. He deserves a peace award. Finally, there is a slight ray of hope for the country. It is sickening to even remember the way Nepalis were killing each other till very recently. It should not be allowed to happen again. Unfortunately, the major political party leaders, whom we voted, betrayed democracy with misrule, exploitation of the poor, illiterate and disadvantaged. They put party interest over national interest; patronised corruption, smuggling and mafiadom and brought this country to this state of becoming one of the poorest in the world. Yet these same "popular" leaders are the ones now who are raising the voice that democracy is in danger unless (once again) they get a chance to wreck everything. As you say in your editorial ("Give peace a chance," #136) they are not averse to jeopardising the peace process for this. What we need is a clean, transparent, pro-poor multiparty system with constitutional monarchy.

Badri Raj Pande,
Bansbari

. Thank you for that interesting profile of Narayan Singh Pun. Here is finally one man who is not a talker, but a do-er. Not a psuedo-patriot, but a true nationalist. We've been waiting for this man all these years.

GB Thapa,
Hong Kong

. Your fulsome praise for Lt-Col Pun may have to be tempered by some facets of his past that you have mentioned in passing, but glossed over. His no-holds-bared devotion to Girija Prasad Koirala, his support for the prime minister in the murky Lauda Air deal casts doubts about his integrity. Also, we see Pun as a ladder climber who jockeys to put himself in the corridors of power. It is clear that it is not all selflessness and humility that has got this man to where he is today.

Naresh Sharma,
email

. Narayan Singh Pun is the first ethnic politician in Nepal who is not a token official handpicked by the elite in Kathmandu to be just a janjati face. Pun is self-made, works hard, has integrity and has just the right dose of ambition to make a difference in not just the peace process but also in Nepal's future political development. I wish there were more people like Pun, then we wouldn't have to worry about governance.

Susan Pradhan,
email

. I agree with your editroial sentiment that the political parties are morally bankrupt. ("Give peace a chance", #136) They have been selfish and greedy, and have never thought about the people. There is a limit to everything, and they crossed that limit. When King Gyanendra did us all a favour by sacking Prime Minister Deuba, it proved that good can triumph over bad. Now, the Nepali people have to get up and lend a hand to establish peace. The political parties are once more trying to stop the process because they want to be in power. Can I use your letter column to ask them a simple question: If you can't even govern your own party, how can you govern the country? We cannot just throw away this chance for peace. Let us all support the government's peace effort.

Buddhi Pant,
Coventry, UK