>Nepe - The media is going to have to talk about it sooner or later. Orion, It feels like as if our media are looking left and right to see who speaks first and what he speaks. Regarding when are they going to speak, I think we shall see major openness only after Prachanda/Baburam publicly appear in Kathmandu. > If the parties can get their acts together between now and the >CA elections, we may be saved from a Maoist government I think SPA as an alliance of seven parties against the Maoists has begun losing ground. The political scenario of the moment is that a republican revolution is happening albeit in a slow motion. So, what is in the best interest of individual parties at this time is OWNING the revolution so that they have capital to show to their constituencies in future. Since the dominant ghatak of SPA, Nepali Congress, is still seems inclined to re-define the revolution (that's, it's not republican one) than owning it whole heartedly, the remaining ghataks do not seem to be in positions to benefit much from SPA vs Maoist pose. I was expecting a rat race of political parties to OWN the republic revolution. May be it is happening but in a motion too slow to feel it. Ramchandra Poudel's recent pro-republic rhetoric might be NC's "on your mark". However, I am not sure about it. GP Koirala is still pro-monarchy. And so is Deuba. UML is already in the race. Other left parties are already on the track. However they are unsure about how best to run. So, basically it is still the Maoists who is owning the revolution at this point of time. That means it will not be surprising if some parties of SPA found it more advantageous to make alliance with the Maoists than remaining in the SPA. So the chance for a government of/with Maoists is more than what would be from their own strength alone. As for the nature of Maoists government or a coalition government with the Maoists, I think their style is not going to be radically different than all previous governments we have seen. So, as far as political parties including the Maoists are concerned, I neither hope better nor fear worse. Yet, I am assuredly optimistic about our smooth transition and better future. And that is for one single and simple reason- the degree of awareness of common people (the non-partisan neutral mass) of Nepal. Participation of this mass in the movement was it's major and decisive aspect and the mass seems to be fully aware of it and also of what it means. And I think this awareness is not going to fade away for next 2-3 years. What this means is that we have a popular warranty for largely popular politics all along the election of CA, drafting of the constitution, first parliament and the 100 days honeymoon and more of the first elected government. So I am relaxed at least for next 2-3 years. People's peaked awareness and sense of supremacy, their sense of what they deserve and their vigilance will keep everybody in check. Nepe