Even after Prachanda issued an order not to kill unarmed people, his army has killed 24 unarmed civilians and abducted hundreds of students. This proves either that his cadre aren't listening to him or that he is simply lying through his teeth.

Prachanda issued the instruction after the bus bomb in Madi that killed 40 people which recieved sharp condemnation. But the Maoists have since not spared even infants in their latest shooting spree. How should peace loving Nepalis perceive Prachanda's followers? How can Prachanda's status in his organisation be understood and how should the party itself be taken?

After the latest incidents, should the people think of the Maoists as a leaderless force with no party policy and directives? Or should we regard them as a terrorist group? More importantly, when there are some who do not obey the party leader's instructions, shouldn't actions be taken against them? Having seen all these, why should the people take Prachanda as the supreme commander of this killer group?

With the blood of thousands of people, in the last 10 years on their hands and destruction of public property, the Maoists have left the people no choice but to call them terrorists just like the king's government has. That is the only conclusion Nepalis can draw. If Prachanda still wishes to assert that his organisation is a political party, he should provide compensation to the families of civilians his blind followers killed, take action against those who defied his instructions and once again apologise in public but this time, like he means it. Prachanda and Company needs to understand this: they cannot always rule with the gun. To rule, one needs to win the hearts of the people.