Nepe

I agree with you that the Maoists have publicly stated and signed in blood their commitment to democracy. I don't doubt there are many in the party who want to see a vibrant a successful democracy in Nepal - the type the NC and UML tried to give us but were not as successful at as they would have liked. Hopefully the voices of such people will carry more weight than the hard-core Soviet-style revolutionary nut-cases, which to be blunt, comprise a large part of the rank and file as far as I can tell.

The concern is not so much what the Maoists have committed to but can they live up to that commitment? And if they can't, what are they capable of doing to stay in power? I believe the checks and balances inherent in the CA  will work to an extent, but unlike the NC and UML (more so the NC) which had more international appeal and could bring in money  to keep the economy afloat (although barely so), should the Maoists fail to deliver, I think we will be in for some really tough times - much tougher than the petrol/gas crisis of late.

I am willing to give them the initial benefit of the doubt based on some of the arguments you have made but we need to  watch them closely  - especially their economic policies and agenda. That to me is the make or break issue, the tell-tale sign of what's playing in the minds of the comrades.