gp, i like your theory that the maoists perhaps had agreed to negotiate with the palace if the deuba government gets sacked. THAT shows a little bit of promise and hope. certainly having all of the netas involved wasn't helping the situation, and perhaps it will be easier to bring about peace if it is just raja-maobaadi. snakebite, i must say, although i still don't see this as a good thing, i am trying to become more open-minded about it in hopes that it will yield good results. but it just worries me that communication and air transportation have been cut off. you made a good point about king birendra and when i made the comment referring to the panchayat era, that was in direct reference to the system of gov't they had then (ie: political parties being outlawed and such), not any sort of infrastructure development. i just wonder why nepal is one country that can never get a break; never have a respectable, trustworthy leader.