The leading lights of Nepali civil rights movement -- Krishna Pahadi et al -- are more interested in throwing out the defanged, defeated and kicked-at king than taking on the Maoists. Meantime, the Maoists are playing by their book: slow steady and then total total destruction of everything and anything that lies on their path to power. Like any third-rate Nepali poet, the Maoist leaders know how to use mitho, guliyo and namra (calm) Nepali bhasa to stir blood of the young for devastation and murder. The April 2006 Andolan killed about 20-odd Nepalis, and that was enough to break the back of the king. The Madhesi Andolan has killed more than 40 Nepalis, yet the netas are still fighting over the spoils of who gets what and how much. And the Maoists -- who do NOT submit the hisab of state-provided millions--go around looting small and big businesses and beating up people. Good Nepalis seriously underestimate the Maoist threat at their own peril. Those of my friends who have been victims say that dealing with the Maoists is like having a cobra for a pet: It's gonna kill you sooner or later, no matter how charming its dance is. oohi ashu