The Maoists have killed -- nay, murdered -- FIVE Nepali journalists so far. They have threatened to kill 10 more, including Kantipur's Harihar Singh Rathaur, a good friend of mine. Still, senior journalists ask this plainly stupid question: ýMaoist leaders should now clarify if they are political rebellion group or a barbarous dictatorial force, intolerant towards criticism,ý said [Tara Nath] Dahal [See the news below.] Isn't the answer obvious? How many MORE cold-blooded murders of journalists and non-jopurnalists does Dahal and his cohorts require to know for sure that the answer has been blowing in the wind for all to see for some time. On another note, claiming that it is countering Maoist atrocities, the State too -- with more money going toward the military -- has escalated its own violence against ordinary Nepalis. Such is life in Nepal these days. In major ways, the Maoist movement has been showing its "Lord of the Flies" character in gruesome details -- with young Nepalis now dancing to the sights and smells of human blood and mayhem, chaos, destruction and wanton killings. And I can imagine Baburam in a faux-Marlon Brando-esque avatar (ref: the movie "apocalypse now") whispering, "Horror, O, Horror!" And one can alomost wake up now to the sounds of helicopters flying ovehead. oohi ashu ********* FNJ stages demonstrations against Maoists in capital KOL Report KATHMANDU, Aug 18 - Journalists and professionals of various organizations have staged protest demonstration in the capital Wednesday against Maoistsý continuing activities of killing, abduction and issuing death threats to journalists in the recent days. Journalists took to the streets today protesting the Maoistsý ýatrocities against press freedomý following the killing of Dekendra Thapa, a journalist of Radio Nepal recently. The demonstration also protested the death threats issued to nine journalists by the Maoists on charges of ýwriting news against them.ý The protest rally that began from Ratnapark went through Bagbazaar, Putalisadak, Exhibition Road, and Martyrsý Gate, New Road and finally converged into a gathering at Ratnapark. Addressing the gathering, President of Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), Taranath Dahal said that the Maoistsý latest actions have raised questions whether they are political force or not. ýMaoist leaders should now clarify if they are political rebellion group or a barbarous dictatorial force, intolerant towards criticism,ý said Dahal. Stating that journalists had raised the issue of killing of journalist Krishna Sen by the state, Dahal urged the Maoist leadership to provide compensation to the family of six journalists killed by them (Maoists) and apologize publicly. Human Rights activist Krishna Pahadi, Shambhu Thapa, President of Nepal Bar Association, Khagendra Bhandari of Professorsý Association and Journalist Harihar Birahi speaking during the same programme added that the politics of violence would never be acceptable in the country. (snn)