Rabindra Mishra: I see a clash here. On the one hand the monarchy has to be abolished before there can be elections to a constituent assembly. But then if the people want it back, you are going to reestablish that overthrown monarchy? Prachanda: That is not how it is. If all the forces were to agree to a constituent assembly, all forces will get the opportunity to present themselves to the people. What we are saying is when that happens, we absolutely, totally do not believe the Nepali people will keep the monarchy that has repeatedly attacked their freedom. Rabindra Mishra: You talked about my theoretical question. Is that not your theoretical wish? But if the people do keep the monarchy despite your wish, will you accept it? Prachanda: We have said we will respect the people's verdict. Rabindra Mishra: The clash still is that you want the monarchy abolished before the constituent assembly, but then you will agree to reestablish it if the people say so through the assembly. Prachanda: That is not the case. The flaw in your logic is that you are not seeing we are willing to accept constituent assembly elections and UN supervision. Rabindra Mishra: In the 12 point agreement you talk of elections and supervision by the UN or another trustworthy third party. Do you think India will agree to that? Prachanda: We have not specified any country. We have not intended to specify either. Rabindra Mishra: What India has been saying is the Nepalis themselves should solve the problems among them. Outsiders can only help. India is against UN involvement. Does that not make it impractical to seek UN involvement? Prachanda: We don't see any reason why the UN should not be accepted. But if that is a problem, that is why we have left options open for some other trustworthy third party. India, China, Europe, America. We think we need help from all of those powers. Rabindra Mishra: Have you talked to the Indians about this? Prachanda: No, we have not had such talks. Rabindra Mishra: So after elections to a constituent assembly are conducted under such supervision, you are willing to discard your weapons. True? Prachanda: What we have been saying is after the constituent assembly election results are out, according to those results, the two armies should be integrated, and one unified army has to take shape. We have made clear there is such a peaceful resolution to the problem. Rabindra Mishra: Let's talk a little about the Indian role in Nepal's politics. For the longest time you have been talking loud about Indian expansionism and American imperialism. But recent developments have shown India is very important also to you as the larger Nepali politics. Many are calling you India's pawn now. Prachanda: That is absolutely baseless. Nepal's crisis and geopolitical reality lead us to think we need help from India, China and the other world powers. We are clear on that. Rabindra Mishra: If it be that important, why have you been badmouthing India for the longest time? Prachanda: There are ideological stands we take. Those are there for sure. Rabindra Mishra: When you met the Nepali leaders in India recently, were you aided by the Indian intelligence agencies? Prachanda: We held the politial dialogue through our own initiatives. We did not experience or feel any external help. Rabindra Mishra: That makes the Indian intelligence agencies look incapable. When all the top Nepali leaders went to Delhi and met you, they had no inkling. Prachanda: That is not something we can comment on. What is for sure is that after the king's 2/1 misadventure, new interactions have become possible. New fermentations have been taking place. Most parties are talking for democracy. We don't think the government was in a total dark. But we did not experience or feel any involvement or help. Rabindra Mishra: Your three month long ceasefire is about to expire in a few days. Will you extend it? Prachanda: We declared our three month long unilateral ceasefire out of respect for the people's desire for peace and democracy. But the royal army has murdered more than 25 of our cadres during this time period. More than 50 have been disappeared. Under such circumstances, it is very difficult for us to extend the ceasefire even if we might want to. But still there is one week left. We are thinking. We are deliberating. Rabindra Mishra: You have spent 10 years circling the villages. How much longer will you stay that way? Prachanda: Our central committe met recently. We evaluated. We have decided on a new direction. The class imbalance of power in the villages has changed. The feudal structure in the villages has been smashed. We have been trying to build a new structure. The country is looking for a political outlet. The central committee has decided to move beyond the villages to the urban areas and to the strategic installations. Rabindra Mishra: What will you do for that? Prachanda: The 12 point agreement has been the outcome of the new direction sought by the central committee. Rabindra Mishra: Will there be other attacks? Prachanda: It is less about attacks. Our major thrust is to take our political moblization to a whole new level. Rabindra Mishra: All the lives that have been lost during the 10 years, people blame both the state and you. Do you think of yourself as a sinner or a sage? Prachanda: Look, Rabindraji, this is a huge insurrection. The 237 year old feudal structure has been revolted against. This has been for justice. Everything has not happened the way we have wanted. This is not about sinner or sage. Human society develops through such revolts. Hundreds of thousands have been sacrificed in other circumstances. This can not be measured emotionally, it has to be measured scientifically, factually. Rabindra Mishra: That was Prachanda. ____