Dear Red Alert, I respect your opinion as I feel your worries are understandable. You say that the bigger picture is bleak and the maoists has/will take over the rural Nepal and probably will take over the capital as well, if the monarchy is ousted. I agree with that argument too as I already mentioned that the end of monarchy will create a "political vaccum" which will take some time to get filled up. It is all very much possible. But I don't understand how all those possibilities justify our support towards the autocratic rule of King G. If you think that it is King/monarchy that is helping to guard the maoists from taking over Nepal, I am sorry, but I won't be buying that argument because that is wrong. As I already mentioned, I am not ready to give the benefit of the doubt to the king anymore, even after all his deeds, to oppress the maoist insurgency because that is not the way it is. If you see, the maoists have become more active after king's take over on Feb 1st of 2005. Peace has deteriorated day by day in the nation. People have lost belief on the king and international community have also started to impose pressure on him for dialogue with the parties. While maoists are some force to reckon with at present, with their latest conviction towards establishing and participating in multiparty democracy, we should not be too much circumspective about their intention. I feel they do deserve a chance, when they say that they are committed towards multiparty democracy. I do, however, reiiterate the necessity of a firm and reliable alliance between the parties and the maoists until multiparty democracy system is up and running. If, however, they decide to impose communist republism in Nepal in the future, it will only lead to their own downfall.