None of the forces that lord over us these days seems to be able to utter a sentence without the word 'people' in it.The political parties and their student vanguards making tyre pyres on the streets claim they want to unshackle the people from the chains of regression, while the bemused public just look on from overhead bridges.

The Maoists have even named their eight-year war after the people. They close down schools and call for national bandhs-effectively telling the people they are not at liberty to work, to go to school or open their businesses.

At Nepalganj on Sunday, King Gyanendra used the word 'janata' and 'desh basi' more than two dozen times. He said a modern monarch couldn't stand aside when the people have tears in their eyes.

Ultimately, all three forces know they need to gain the legitimacy and the trust of the people. That is a good sign: at least the people still seem to matter. But for the parties, the procedure with which that legitimacy is gained seems more important than actual fulfillment of the mandate. For their part, the Maoist ideologues say they are so fed up with patronage and corruption that passes for democracy that they want a new people's democracy-and so what if a few thousand people die in the process of being liberated? King Gyanendra sees his role as a knight in shining armour who wants to rescue the people from the clutches of corrupt politicians and ruthless rebels by redefining the role of a monarch within a multiparty polity.

The people have reacted to these promises with stoic skepticism. They have heard it all before and they have learnt to get on with their lives the best they can. In fact, as this tripartite power struggle strangles the nation, the people have shown remarkable patience and forbearance even though the leaders have always punished the people when they want to get back at their rivals.

Nepalis have endured the Maoist violence of the past eight years, suffering greatly. Some believe the Maoists when they say violence is a necessary sacrifice they have to make for a better tomorrow, others are too scared to disagree. The political parties have drifted from anti-regression to pro-republic, but the people see it as just another slogan. Increasingly doubtful about the intentions of the king they may be, but Nepalis are still crowding to see him in Simikot and Jumla.

Longsuffering Nepalis are waiting to be heard through their elected representatives, and their patience is wearing thin. If only those who presently control their destiny could agree on the mechanism of how to let that happen. Throughout all this, it is only the people who are showing any sanity or a sense of responsibility. The tragedy is they don't trust any of the above anymore.