Kiyoku Ogura is correct in saying in her Guest Column that the Newars of Kathmandu were exploited by political parties during the 1990 movement (\'Days of future past\', #294). And after the party bosses became prime ministers, the Newars and the sacrifices of other Janjatis were quickly forgotten. They even forcefully expelled Ganesh Man Singh from the Nepali Congress Party even though he was the true democratic Newar Nepali. I think the feudal lords described by Mike Duggan in Letters in the same issue also applies to Nepal\'s political parties and their chieftains. They run their political parties as their personal fiefdoms and act as if they know everything. And after they got democracy in 1990, they thought they were indestructible and did ill-disciplined and corrupt activities in the name of democracy that led us to today\'s mess. The so-called democratic practices after 1990 left the Newars and Janjatis isolated from these political chieftains. Now the tables have turned and the chieftains are appealing to the same people they once betrayed. If this isn\'t power lust, what is it? The Nepali Times must understand the aspirations of Nepalis and must not support these corrupt chieftains blindly. What about making these corrupt chieftains apologise to Newars, Janjatis and to all Nepalis?

Kanchan Dahal,
Shantinagar