Dr Upendra Devkota's theory that "There is a conspiracy in this country to turn our youth into drug addicts. Even the royal family is not safe" (#48) is right on. In fact, the elite and the emerging middle class sector is precisely

the target group. The motive? Profit and power. The young elite not only have the money, they are the role models for the aspiring affluent. Three-quarters of the young people in Kathmandu (the leaders of the next generation), seeking treatment in drug recovery centers are from the upper/middle class. Check out the moody colour advertisement in a Kathmandu English daily on 22 June that read "Mind-altering substances. Now sold legally." It shows a glorious chest-high photo of a young boy with hair flowing looking upward as if he is having a spiritual experience. And what is the advertisement selling? Shoes. What is the connection? The message to the unconscious is: if you want to be "high", if you want to run with the "big" boys...buy our shoes. Dr Devkota's comment are not psychological hysterics.

M. Krajniak, Psychotherapist
Kathmandu

I am appalled that the palace did not have a full time doctor on duty as well as an ambulance with life support equipment. Princess Sruti was still alive when she arrived at the hospital. Had they had more better equipment, perhaps she and other wounded could have stabilised until they were got to hospital. In all the talk of Dipendra using drugs, no one has mentioned that alcohol is probably the drug that causes more people to commit violent acts than any other. Marijuana and hashish would have caused him to be mellow and relaxed, unless the "black tar substance'" was something other than that, such as black tar heroin.
The same issue of Nepali Times also talks about the Maoists' use of "children". In a country where the majority of wealthy and not-so-wealthy people use children as servants, where it is relatively tolerated to have children working, then what is the fuss about children in war? Until the society sees that having children used in any capacity, whether as servants, farm workers, prostitutes or warriors, is wrong, this practice will continue.

Maggie Namjou
Vermont, USA