Well, it very possible to come to an argument that Maoist do not necessary want to cause a large civillian casulty but rather likes to make a point by killing few with maximum brutality so that they set that up as an example at the cost of some lives therefore installing fear. May be people have to make a hard choice between "living in fear" because of the Maoist or "not living at all" because of the policy of RNA and police. In the last paragraph you have brought a notion which basically means (from the example of mad men shooting at people indiscrminately) Maoist are killing or brutalizing people indiscriminately. Looking at the various rebel movements around the world I guess Maoists have been far more selective in targeting (at least more than than RNA) than various rebel groups around. Would any foreigners even attempt to go into the territory held by FARC (another communist rebel movement) in Columbia since last 40 years. So many times they have taken foreign nationals as hostages and killed because these foreigners ventured inside their territory and FARC territory is NO GO zone for any foreigners no matter what. At least the nepali Maoists have been allowing foreigners venturing into their territory after collecing 10-15$ in so called "TAX".