I was really shaken by the translated story 'Home soon' (#178). It is an utter outrage that Indian officials abducted a Nepali national from Kathmandu three years ago, and have imprisoned him in Lucknow ever since without any charges. It is a gross violation of human rights as well as basic legal norms in this age. Prem B Chhetry should be released immediately by India. Why have the scores of individuals who have earned high fame and fortune in the human rights profession not brought this illegal detention to India's attention even after three years? Or are our human rights professionals just as servile towards the Indian Embassy as our politicians? In the same issue Yubraj Ghimire in 'Lucknow, Ishwor Pokhrel and the Summit' got it absolutely right when he says that the usually boisterous bravado of our political parties and students turns to a whimper the minute they hear a sneeze from inside the Indian Embassy. It is a pity that our human rights entrepreneurs also have to operate from within such 'diplomatic' constraints.

Jack Shaw,
Lexington, USA