HOW FREE IS BABURAM? http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openThread.cfm?forum=2&ThreadID=18740 Anyone who thinks of Stalin as a legitimate role model is out of the whack. I guess Ashu's posting shows Baburam is in that category. In their purity, I guess the Maoists are that. But I don't believe that is their reality. Just like monarchy evolves, democracies evolve, the UML evolved, I believe we should give the Maoists the benefit of doubt. The idea should not be to rub their noses into the ground. The idea should be to let them save face. And bring them into the mainstream. If they want to go into the Constituent Assembly without first disarming, then that would be cause for suspicion. So, yes, seek third party mediation. Yes, go for a Constituent Assembly. But only if the Maoists disarm before that. Riten has offered a wonderful comparison between various monarchies. King G does not exactly look good. http://www.sajha.com/sajha/html/openthread.cfm?forum=2&ThreadID=18676 I think the monarchists will fight the idea of a Constituent Assembly tooth and nail. (1) They can not risk being voted out: they end up being commoners. (2) For now, they have the power to say no to the idea. (3) They are anathema to the idea the monarchy needs public approval. To them it is the other way round. It is democracy that the people get as a gift from the royals. But a newly elected parliament - if possible - can be better than the current state of affairs. The question is, is it possible? Reality check for both Deuba and the Maoists.