| sally |
Posted
on 03-Aug-01 12:02 PM
Interesting article by Arjun Bhandari in KTM Post, "Govt move on APF key to peace bid." But I can't figure out if it's supposed to be a news story. It reads like an editorial, although it's not labeled that way.
Bhandari writes:
Should he let the ordinance lapse and hence boost the chance for peace talks with the rebels? Or
should the government push for the passage of the APF and kiss goodbye its chances of talks with the
rebels?
"KISS GOODBYE ITS CHANCES"? That's not news writing, that's opinion. Similarly, Bhandari writes:
As long as Girija Prasad Koirala was in power, neither the rebels nor the Koirala government showed
true seriousness about talks. Now since Sher Bahadur Deuba became the prime minister last month,
both sides have been hurtling towards talks. Standing in the way has been - you guessed it - the APF
ordinance and a few other legislation, namely the Public Security Act 2001.
Again, that's analysis. NOT news writing. It goes on in the same vein--a nicely written and well-researched editorial, but a biased news story. Perhaps it's just mislabeled on the online edition and is presented as an editorial in the print version. But it's kind of strange ...
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Regarding the content of the story, I usually prefer not to comment on the internal political affairs of Nepal (since I don't think I'm very knowledgeable), and I certainly WOULDN'T want to be in the position of the people having to make these difficult decisions. But as a general rule, paramilitary forces around the world have had a bad and bloody human rights record. Just my two cents.
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