The Samyukta Jan Morcha folks were close to the Maoists for the longest time. They often DEFENDED the Maoists by saying that while they disapproved of the Maoist violence, they AGREED with the Maoist goals. But after continuously seeing how their karya-kartas started getting murdered, harrassed and threatened in large numbers by their new best friends aka the Maoists, the SJM folks realized that they simply could NOT trust the Maoists at all and had to do something. As far as the Maoists as concerned, as SJM found out rather too late, violence and nothing but violence is the ideology to hold on to. That is why, we now have SJM folks battling AGAINST the Maoists across Nepal through public rallies and fights. In other words, one radical faction of Nepali communists is now at war with another rebel faction of Nepali communists. Meantime, the moderate communist party of Nepal aka the UML, which too has lost countless numbers of karya-kartas to the Maoists' bullets, REFUSES to learn from r ecent history and continues to make this utterly foolish request (see below) AS THOUGH THE MAOISTS would pay them any attention. Why would the Maoists come for talks at all? What would they talk about? With so many garib janata killed and maimed, what's there to talk really? oohi ashu ************************ Maoist urged to respond positively KOL Report KATHMANDU, Jan 5 - The major ruling party Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) has once again appealed Maoists to respond positively to government?s call for peace talks. The party?s Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday made the appeal urging the Maoist leadership to come with clear view regarding peace talks. The appeal came at a time when government deadline for the Maoists to sit for peace talks is fast approaching to an end. Earlier, the government had issued the deadline till mid-January for peace negotiations. However, the Maoists have turned deaf ear to the government?s repeated appeals for peace process. Party sources said the meeting held serious discussion over the Maoists? indifferent attitude towards talks. Today?s meeting also discussed the issue of appointing the new governor at Nepal Rastra Bank. The appointment of the new governor at the NRB has been delayed following Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba?s reservations to the recommended names. (dds)