Bidhan chalise :P (i think that's your nick haina? hehe....not that it really matters), well, i have read about what happened to your uncle three times already in sajha including this. my honest sympathy to him and to those who are still suffering from attacks brought about by the maoists. i take that as an inefficiency on their part to control their action (that by PLA) at this important juncture. but wait! i want to give this a second thought. don't take me as a pro communist. you want peace in nepal and so do i (so does everyone(?) for that matter). BUT, when views don't resonate, action won't as well. it should be understood that monarchy is unconscious but not dead. Nepali congress and girija still believe that they and their hypocritical agenda cannot exist and prosper in the long run in nepal, if nepal is to head for a republic. time and again, he has reiterated that they can still settle for ceremonial monarchy--the best solution, which in my view is against the liking of majority nepalese at the moment. and that in my view is a lack of self-confidence on girija and congress' part. this is first thing, secondly, NA have lost their 'R' but they still comprise same people who were/are loyal to the king, who will fight to death for him, if need be. amidst this scenario, don't expect maoists to completely disarm before NA is restructured. it's like running for a 20 miles marathon solely with a lead and letting other followers to take over at the finish line. So, don't expect them to disarm fully. they won't do it unless 1) referendum ousts the king and hence monarchy. 2) a feasible environment (after NA is restructured) for an unbiased and violence-free CA is created. Captain, I appreciate your views, as always. Your skepticism is understandable. And I will be with you, if they proceed to CA with arms on. :) LooTe