Kathmandu, July 1 -- The debate about who is less accountable to the public: politicians or bureaucrats is as old as Nepal's democracy itself.

Some blame politicians for being beholden to the businessmen who finance their electoral campaigns, and are forced to return the favour with contracts and kickbacks when in power.

Others say it is civil servants who are neither civil nor servants, and know the inner workings of the system to exploit loopholes - they then teach ministers, MPs, mayors, or ward chairs which juicy projects can be squeezed. And everyone gets their share.

In reality, it is probably not a case of either, or. Both have their hands deep in the honey pot. Corruption is now such a given that yet another expose in the main...