Two articles in the latest Himal Khabar Patrika discuss two interesting issues: Kanak Mani Dixit talks about the need to start thinking about a post-Maoist Nepal. Deepak Thapa argues that since Maoists are engaging more and more in terrorist acitivities, they have lost support among the janata, they have also their military firepower and political rhetoric. **** Meantime, CONSIDER these (my observations): 1) After nine years, the Maoists have NOT captured a single zilla anywhere in Nepal to claim as their own. They have gotten what they gotten through a psychosis of fear and terror. 2) After any one of their attacks, they have NEVER been able to retreat to their fortified "aadhar e-laka". They have been constantly running from one place to another, like a group of fugitives. 3) Nowhere in the world have rebels of any sort blocked highways and scattered landmines along public highways. The Maoists have done that too. This shows BOTH their desperation and the obvious criminalisation of their activities. 4) Even poor village women (as in Dailekh) have risen up against them. 5) The ONLY technique left in the Maoist strategy is to continue adopting a "hit-and-run" method, which allows them to kill a few people and bomb a few places. 6) Their recruitment policy is all about kidnapping helpless school children. 7) NO civil society group in Nepal openly and consistently condemns the Maoists (it's always easier for them to attack the King, Girija, Deuba and others!) for reasons of (a) fear of being killed, and (b) being left out of the 'barta" game, should such a "barta" come to pass. [Everyone wants claim his credit for being a mediator in this supposed govt-Maoist "barta".] 8) Without naming names, Kantipur reported that three Nepali human rights activists have run away from Nepal to save their lives from the Army's threats. My question: With no disrespect to those people, one can ask just what sort of full-time human rights-wallahs are these who can't even prepare to be saheed for the cause of human rights in Nepal? oohi ashu