It?s all very exciting, great news etc, that the seven parties and the Maoists have finally come to an agreement. Unfortunately, I think our political leaders are too power hungry to unite and work sincerely for the good of the people. Let?s wait and see. Until then, god bless Nepal and poor Nepalis.

Kiran Karki,
Australia

? Nice cartoon (?Scrubbed?, #326). Let?s hope everyone is using good quality soap so at least their hands stay clean for some time. We have seen positive changes since April?a commitment to peace and limits on the powers of the king. But there hasn?t been much from the Maoists except the formal ceasefire. They are still extorting, looting, holding back rival parties, and the like. And they keep changing the goalposts. I hope this trend will not go on until the constituent assembly, and so on and so forth. Will the Maoists? actions be punishable by law? Until we know that, people will continue to doubt the capability and willingness of the government to contain the various elements within the Maoists.

Bimal Raj Bastola,
New York

? Just as the country is moving towards a peaceful settlement to the insurgency and the people are, to a certain extent, forgiving the Maoists? past deeds, they have reminded us again that their intolerance is tenacious. Their banda abruptly halted daily activities over a routine, long-overdue activity, not a policy decision requiring consultation. If they genuinely want to look less intimidating and cruel, they should change their mode of showing displeasure. And why do other parties in the coalition jump on the Maoist bandwagon? In any case, I don?t see any proposed appointment that needs serious rethinking.

People wonder whether the Maoists are serious about joining a multiparty democracy or are just using democracy to destroy democracy. In other words, are they using democracy as a means to fulfil their goal of a communist hegemony?

PB Rana,
email