Re: The editorial 'Party time' (#145). The power struggle in Nepal at present is a triangular balance between King Gyanendra, the political parties and the Maoists. Two of these forces have military might. The political parties have only the streets. The parties need to show that they are a force also to be reckoned with. A bicycle cannot stand upright without moving. There has to be some kind of showdown, things cannot go on like this. Unfortunately, the former prime ministers and the political leadership are scared out of their wits that their past corruptions are coming back to haunt them. The street protests have nothing to do with democracy, and everything to do with protecting themselves. It is a form of blackmail to say: don't touch me, otherwise I'll do something drastic on the streets. Everyone in Nepal sees through that. The people are not dumb. Everyone has seen how these people came to Kathmandu and became billionaires overnight with those mansions and pajeros. The Nepali people want a quick resolution to this deadlock, they want the corrupt to face the music, but they want their freedom and democracy back. And that is also the message to King Gyanendra, he must read the writing on the wall and see that time has moved on since 1990. There is no going back.

Rabindra Dhakal,
Japan

.'The great game' by Dhawal SJB Rana (#145) deserves praise for taking the middle path between the lies of the political parties and the lies from the palace. Both are dragging on this fight, waiting for the other to blink. Meanwhile, the Maoists are taking full advantage of the confusion. Even within the royal appointed cabinet there is no unity, they are all fighting each other like cats and dogs. Every minister thinks he is the king's chosen one and behaves accordingly. Rana's three-point solution (all-party interim government to oversee elections, maturity on the part of the politicians, Maoists must work towards long-term peace) is logical and sound. Anyone with common sense can see that is what is needed. But do we have anyone with common sense still left?

Meena Mainali,
email

. I don't see why everyone involved in the present political stalemate doesn't follow the solution you present in your editorial ('Party time', #145). This dispute is totally avoidable, all we need is an agreement by all forces about what lies in the national interest: parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. How do we get there? As you say, through an inclusive government leading us to elections and a return to democracy. The country can't take this limbo any longer.

J Pathak,
Kathmandu

. I agree to a great extent with CK Lal's in-depth analysis of present political scenario of the nation ('Reconciliation roadmap', #145). He has elaborated on the pros and cons of the government-Maoist peace talks and the so called 'people's movement 2' led by GP Koirala and supported by other political parties. Mr Lal thinks the King must trust the mainstream political parties in order for them to implement their vision for new Nepal. Fair enough. But reality is different, and the Nepali people have very little trust left in these political parties-especially the Girija and Deuba Congresses and the UML. The people have not forgotten the mischief they got up to while in power. Will the Nepalis easily forgive them? I doubt it. Just by bringing in a few thousand people, most of them cadre, relatives, or volatile unemployed youth on the streets will not reinstate the peoples' trust. GP and MK should think twice before launching the next phase of their agitation. The Nepali Congress of both factions, are especially to blame. They need to win the hearts and minds of the people through confidence-building mechanisms. The parties need to regain the peoples' trust, otherwise even if the king reinstates them, we can\'t expect anything better than the past 13 years.

N Prakash,
Africa