HIMALAYAN TIMES EDITORIAL
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=EDITORIAL%3A+Dubious+loyalty&NewsID=388135

The government is reported to have started an investigation into government employees who have taken foreign citizenship, permanent residency, or are in the process of doing so. This is a conflict of interest as well as of loyalty, and goes against the letter and spirit of the oath all government employees take before starting their service. Before anybody is granted such a status in a foreign country, they have to take an oath of allegiance to that country. Those government officials who have entered the process have looked after their own selfish interests at the cost of their duty and responsibility, the employment rules and regulations, as well as the law of the land. It is a hopeful sign that this government of non-politicians is taking an interest in the matter, which has been lying unheeded for years. Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel has rightly called such attempts as instances of big betrayal of the country.

Nepali citizens have a right to take permanent residency or citizenship of a foreign country. Once they become foreign citizens, they cannot, however, utilize Nepali citizenship, and even coming to Nepal they have to do so as foreign citizens. But the case is totally different when incumbent government officials do so. They are liable to both official and legal action, all the more so when they work in highly sensitive areas, such as internal security, defence and foreign services. But, unfortunately, in Nepal successive governments have remained indifferent to this, letting state employees engage in activities that run counter to their official duty. According to reports, every ministry has several such employees. Recently, an official in a Nepali delegation was denied an American visa on the grounds that an American citizen did not need one. Col. Kumar Lama, arrested in Britain about eight months ago, was later known to have a certain status in Britain which he had used to enter that country and his wife had British citizenship. Some people who have received permanent status in foreign countries have been appointed to responsible state posts in Nepal.

People who take foreign residency or citizenship while on Nepal’s state duty must be brought to justice. As for others, such as those who are in government service but whose family have taken foreign citizenship, the government should make clear laws. There are also those who have served in high government posts of Nepal but later stayed back on such a status as refugees, and in such cases, the government should decide whether they deserve to get a pension. The issue of foreign residency or citizenship involves a whole lot of problems and the laws and regulations should take all those matters into account, stipulating what is permissible and what is not, and what the punishment is for any infringements. In this and in many other areas, our lawmakers and governments have been very weak for whatever reasons, and self-seeking people have fully exploited these weaknesses to the detriment of the country and the people. If this government can do something concrete in this regard, it will be setting a good example.

Water, water

As many as 11,000 customers have not cleared their water bills for a decade. The Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) now seems to be in a difficult situation as to what it should do to recover the arrears. No doubt, the capital’s denizens lack drinking water but what is an anomaly is that even institutions regarded as influential are not paying their dues. The customers of the KUKL have reasons to be angry at it for being unable to supply the required amount of drinking water. It must be admitted that in some localities not a single drop of water has dropped from the taps for a long time. So, why should they be paying for something that they are not getting.

Meanwhile, the KUKL should take stern action against the defaulters but make sure that water supply is improved and water is fairly distributed to all customers. Instead, the water tariff has been heavily increased. If the KUKL resolves the problem of water shortages then their customers would be more than willing to pay up. It is unfair when those being supplied ample amounts of water are not paying up while those suffering from scarcity are having to.