Your editorial 'As if there was no tomorrow' (#288) is a scathing criticism of the financial dealings of the present government. Yet the claim that a restored Parliament would bring transparency to the government actions is preposterous. Have you forgotten the recent past or are you blinded by your resentment and political vehemence? Your are outraged by the purchase of the two royal limousines but what about the waving of import duties on the Pajeros and Prados of MPs? How much revenue was lost to the state then? And how many prime ministers have freely distributed state funds to party cadres and family members? One can go on and on. What difference does it make to the common man if the corrupt belongs to one elite or to the other? Corruption was the main factor that lead to the failure of our democratic experiment and the growing lack of confidence in the democratic institutions and the political parties. The Nepali public is concerned that the political parties want to return to power and re-establish themselves as the only ones with the right to milk the cow. If that is not the case then let the parties pledge to the people of Nepal to pass strict anti-corruption laws if and when parliament is reinstated. Without demonstrating a clear intention to fight corruption all their appeals to democracy and the rule of law are just blatant lies.

Sunita Aryal,
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. Your editorial 'As if there was no tomorrow' was depressing. Not only are Nepalis being killed and brutalised by conflict. Not only has development been pushed back, but the new rulers are just taking money from the national exchequer. It seems whoever is in power in Nepal, whether they are self-appointed autocrats or elected ministers, they have treated the treasury as their private bank account. What is different now is that those in power want to rake it in because they know time is running out for them.

Gyan Subba,
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