After reading Kunda Dixit's "King G does it" in your internet edition, I felt he is being a little too optimistic in thinking that regression to direct royal rule would solve the country's problems in this time of great crisis. Dixit seems to be reflecting the Nepali people's yearning for a saviour, any saviour. Just remember that the Panchayat system was an utter failure.

S Thapa,
Tokyo

. Article 27 of the Constitution of Nepal empowers His Majesty to take necessary steps in the national interests, integrity and sovereignity. It reads "His Majesty is to preserve and protect this Constitution by keeping in view the best interests and welfare of the people of Nepal." There was no other alternative than the step taken by King Gyanendra. Few political leaders regarded his step as unconstitutional and shocking. But this is what any sensible head of the state would do for the well-being of the people. It has been a decade that the royal family has neglected the world outside the palace. This was necessary to let the people of Nepal know that the royals are always there to help in times of crisis. Now it depends on King Gyanendra how he handles the upcoming situation in Nepal concerning the Maoists pressure and possible pressure from political leaders. The government he forms in the next five days would reflect his policies towards the country. Being a former businessman, King Gyanendra is aware of the current economic and development situation in the country and has the future welfare of Nepalis in mind.

Pravesh Saria,
Chicago

. King Gyanendra means business. Love him, hate him, but you can't ignore him. That is the message going to politicians. And add to that the public sentiment which is clearly in favour of the royal proclamation as shown from the poll in Nepali Times. Nepali people are gripped by uncertainty and at this moment they really feel safer with a single absolute monarch than with a big corrupt cabinet. No prize for guessing why no one is complaining. The last nail in the coffin for the politicians will be if and when the king restores peace to the country. This is also a great opportunity for the Maoists to come to the table if they really have something creative in their mind. Otherwise, no one is going to trust them anymore, and we have had enough of them as well. Deuba had no one to blame but himself for what happened.

Sameer Bhattarai,
by email

. "Vox populi" by Navin Subedi was instructive. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that everything ex-premier Deuba did during his tenure helped the Maoists. It was during his first term as prime minister in 1996 that the Maoists launched their "peoples war". During his second term their strength increased by leaps and bounds. In the past few months he proceeded to dismantle all structures of parliamentary democracy: dissolving parliament, local elected bodies, imposing a state of emergency. All these things were exactly what the Maoists wanted, and it made them stronger. Now that King Gyanendra has taken over, the first thing he should investigate is whether Deuba has links to Prachanda, Baburam & Co.

Roshan Limbu,
Kathmandu