I would like to comment on the repeated misrepresentation in the democratic press of EU views in relation to the King's declarations of 21 and 24 April. The EU position has consistently favoured the full restoration of democracy in Nepal. As I am sure those party leaders involved in our joint meeting on 22 April will confirm, EU Ambassadors were arguing that the peoples' movement had fundamentally changed the balance of power in this country in favour of the democrats. Far from arguing for compromise with the King, we were arguing that the parties should exploit the dynamics of people power and use that power to implement fully their 7-point program. There are, of course, different routes to achieve the same goal. We are delighted that the Parliament has been restored and look forward to early moves by that Parliament to implement the SPA program, work towards a cease fire agreement with the Maoists and restore peace to this country through integration of the Maoists into a fully democratic system.

Keith Bloomfield
UK Ambassador, Kathmandu

. The best definition of democracy is that it is for the people, by the people, of the people. The responsibility is in the hands of the people. But are we actually mature, responsible citizens who can put aside bloated egos and self-interest and put forward the interest of the country? Can we put faith in the people who will be running this country if the king does gives up? King Gyanendra has been inviting the parties for dialogue and they have refused so maybe he should start thinking of another way to get the country going. The Maoists are waging a war based on a philosophy that is losing its sheen by the day. Acts of vandalism, extortions, human rights violations, the list goes on. The international community seems to change its stance by the minute-yesterday it was the king and today it is the so-called democratic parties. At the end of the day, who do I support? We seem to be headed for every man for himself.

S Tuladhar,
email

. Finally we are heading in the right direction, the end of autocratic
monarchy in Nepal. There is the same optimism among people, that we had in 1990 that everything is going to be fine after regime change. We were all disillusioned fairly quickly, and there is no guarantee things will turn out differently now especially since the people in charge after 1990 are the same ones who will be taking charge if the political system changes. Also, not all dictators are kings. We may get rid of the king and he'll be replaced by a military dictator or a so-called democratic president who refuses to yield power.

Sagar Sharma,
email

. I have been following the exchange on Plan B triggered by your editorial ('Conflict of interest', #293). The main thing is that Nepal should be able to survive and do better even without a monarchy if everyone follows the constitution. There are hundreds of countries without monarchies which are doing pretty well. But the constitution has to be made in such a way that no one political force (army, king, parties, Maoists) can ever monopolise political power and destroy multiparty democracy.

B Subas,
Sydney

. I am torn and enocouraged by the Jana Andolan II that has swept Nepal.
Yes the king needs to hand power back to the people, yes we need democracy, but we do not need 14 governments in the next 14 years. The same people who are instigating Part II of our revolution started the Maoist problem with police operations in 1996, they tore our country apart with crony politics and now they have joined hands with the Maoists to hand the country over to them. Can we trust them again?

I Bhandari,
email

. Very interesting interviews with Mahara and Girija Koirala ('God save the king', #294). I live in a country that managed to come out of dictatorship and become a democratic monarchy. This country is Spain. Your country is different but you should never allow acts of violence against your own people destroy you. Freedom is possible but it comes with responsibility. We all need to learn and apply tolerance of each other's point of views. Otherwise we will fight forever. But when peace and democracy are finally restored, whoever is in charge should immediately begin investing in education, otherwise their restoration will be only temporary.

Name withheld,
Spain

. Political parties and their concurrent avatar in the form of the seven-party alliance are indulging in nationwide pro-democracy demonstrations. But what is their political, socio-economic and development agenda? There are demonstrations and rhetoric but nothing about socio-economic plans, educational reform, bureaucratic restructuring or development in general. In the long term, results matter and without results, monarch, commoner or politician, all will be reduced to an ungraceful exit. The Maoists have so far thrived on populist militant tactics but if they are to enter mainstream politics, they'll have to disclose their economic and socio-political agenda. None of the three sides look credible or farsighted.

Shiven Thapa,
Kathmandu

. We the Nepalis in the Philippines want the political leaders to be bold and lead this movement ton its ultimate goal-people's sovereignty. They must be more united and avoid taking sole credit for the movement: that would be a great mistake. This time the citizens of Nepal are more than worthy to receive all the credit for the movement.

BP Khanal,
Manila

. I haven't read such sane writing as your editorial 'Anarchy in a mnarchy' (#294) in a long time. It has no vitriol and at times like these, it is really commendable. Hope all sides listen/read this too. I am all for retaining the monarchy but it must be a unifying force not a divisive one.

Name withheld,
email

. How strange. There is a country in Asia which could be nearly a paradise on earth. But there is a man who as king is in charge of this couuntry who mixes up his personal destiny with the destiny of this country-to a degree that he destroys so much that he might enter into history as a maniac who used his power to shift his country's place in the family of nations to one of the last positions. I am full of admiration for the energy of the Nepali people.

Frank Schwalba-hoth,
ex-Member of the European Parliament Brussels

. We have not heard the voice of the people only that of the politicians who claim to speak for the people or the press who keep telling us what we should be thinking or the authorities who keep telling us what is best for us. The people are speaking now loud and clear and the powers that be better listen. We are now ready for change and should be prepared to face the challenge of uncertainty. If we don't, we will never know what is at the end of the tunnel. Let's face change with the same dignity with which we have been trying to avoid it in the past.

R Bhandari,
email

. Loktantra is not for the people, it's for the political gangsters that are misleading the people. It is just like the Maoist taking the lives of innocent Nepali people and still saying they're fighting for the people. Right now what the people need is peace. We all have a dream to once again see a peaceful Nepal, like it used to be.
J Thapa,
email

. From the moment the situation started to change in Nepal, Kunda Dixit has been on a roll with his king-bashing binge ('A first ste&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#̵'216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;', 'Less majesty' and 'Power to the people', Nepali Times eSpecial). While his comments are bona fide they have been rather one-sided. I hope that he understands that the status quo is not the end of the story but a mere beginning. Yet again the stars of new game are the same old wicked leaders who are just as responsible for the state of the country as the king is.

Sushil Bogati,
USA

. In 'Less majesty' (Nepali Times, eSpecial) Kunda Dixit has drawn a far-fetched analogy between Ferdinand Marcos and King Gyanendra to augment his piece. He is aware of the quotes but ignorant of the geo-political situation. Outspoken critic of communism, Marcos enjoyed enthusiastic support from the US for his 21 years of rule from 1965-1986. As he was serving the US geopolitical and ideological interests in the region, he was able to rule the country till he had to fly out in a US Air Force jet in 1986 to exile in Hawaii. Though the US ambassador to Nepal still has not understood the culture and society of Nepal, it would be remiss not to thank him as his statement (about King Gyanendra having to fly out in a helicopter) also played a role in restoring democracy.

Dinesh Gautam,
Kathmandu

. Less majesty? We know the country belongs to the people but without the kings to build this country we would still be in bullock carts. This country is nothing without the king. Stop making the monarchy the issue and start focussing on the Maoists who are standing with you. Long live the king.

Name withheld,
email

. I agree with Kunda Dixit that sovereignty resides with the people but who does he mean when he says 'people'? The seven-party alliance? Does anyone still believe they represent us? Giraja Prasad Korila ruled 80 percent of the time after 1990 in the so-called democracy and practically ruined the country.

Name withheld,
email

. Kunda Dixit, how can you say that the restoration of the dissolved parliament is a 'victor&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'&#'216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;216;' ('Power to the people', Nepali Times eSpecial)? Deuba asked the king to dissolve the house. Now the king restores the house without elections which is not mentioned in the constitution. Surely the king did not win, the party leaders got back their parliament without an election, and the people are surely losers.

E Deja,
email

.Kunda Dixit is right that the country belongs to the people not only to the king ('Less majesty', Nepali Times eSpecial). The king should announce general elections and hand power back to parliament to defuse the current situation.

Shree Shrestha,
email

. Kunda Dixit's 'The first step' in the Nepali Times online edition is a sobering piece amidst the revolutionary fervour and chaos in the streets. It is the people who have the ultimate power, not the king, the politicians nor the insurgents. The people of Nepal will not be held hostage by this triad of doom. Here is my own 12-point program on defusing the crisis and moving forward towards peace, stability and nation- building:
1. King becomes a ceremonial monarch with no powers
2. Army is brought under parliament
3. The king's royal expenditure budget is to be brought down to the pre-2001 level and his assests are to be made public on a yearly basis, income will be taxed 4. The seven parties form a unity interim government
5. Party hold talks with the Maoists
6. Maoists to lay down weapons and contest elections, people's representatives will decide on changes to the constitution
7. Only political leaders who are 55 years or younger and who have not held a ministerial post will be allowed to lead the unity government provided they and their family members disclose their wealth and tax information
8. No one can serve more than two terms as prime minister
9. Political parties practice internal democracy, no one can be a leader for more than two terms or change the party's statute
10. No political party cadre or member can have a government related job
11. Participation of janjatis, dalits and women in the political party structure, bureaucracy and the unity government
12. Mandatory taxation and appropriate utilisation through good governance

SN Singh,
email

. It is appreciable that even in these polarised times you have proved yourself an unbiased media outlet. Unlike the others who have been supporting a single side blindly, articles in your paper air the views of all sides. However, your editorial ('Take it or leave it', Nepali Times eSpecial) missed an important point. Your last line: goes: 'We just hope and pray that the price the country has to pay for one man's ego is not too high'. I would like to add a couple of other people. We can't forget the last 15 years easily nor the 10 years of Maoist activities. Hopefully all three will finally see the fourth power: the people.

G Subba,
email

. Following the royal proclamation, it's hard for the people to understand what is stopping the seven parties from forming a government that includes the CPN-Maoist, which then will conduct constituent assembly elections. Don't they have any confidence in their own political power and people's support?

Rajeeb Satyal,
Kathmandu

. The veiled Maoist threat that they will wipe out anyone who doesn't support their agenda of abolishing the monarchy just proves that this is a force the whole nation needs to stand up to. If we can get together and fight against a monarch who has the army at his side, why would we not get together again and fight terrorists? We are scaring each other out of a chance to build ourselves a better future and a stronger nation. Nobody is going to do it for us.

KJ Shrestha

. This is a decisive moment for all seven parties-they must keep their cool and stay united. As Kunda Dixit suggests in ('The first step' Nepali Times eSpecial) they must keep in mind the sacrifices that the people have made. Don't restart infighting again please.

LN Silwal,
email

. Kunda Dixit seems to have got quite big bucks from King Gyanendra ('The first step', Nepali Times eSpecial). Otherwise why would an opportunist elite media mogul support a crumbling king who's been nothing but a burden for over 25 million people? The king has been cornered and is now trying to buy time. Dixit's duplicity and double standard has been exposed here. He must have been assured ministerial portfolios by King G.

S Upadhyaya,
London

. Kunda Dixit says ('The first step', Nepali Times eSpecial) of King Gyanendra: 'He has to be satisfied with being a ceremonial monarch, otherwise there is no place for him. Not so fast! I say there is no place for him. It is about time that this white elephant be removed from our country. The royals should now become private citizens and contribute to the society for change rather than being just takers. We have fought long and hard. We have suffered much. And we have come far. We shouldn't stop half- way and let our revolution fizzle out. Now is the time to step out of 250 years of feudalistic mental slavery and learn to shape our own future, instead of cowering with fear and wondering what we are going to do if we have no king. If we can stare down the barrel of M16s and bear brutal beatings from the army and police we can surely fight the Maoists' oppression should they dare to do so. Having said that, let there be a referendum on whether we should keep the monarchy. I vote for a republic but let's see what the majority wants.

Sangey Norbu,
email

. I have appreciated your balanced reporting and editorials. Even CK Lal it seems, had an epiphany about the Maoists ('Insurgency of the intelligentsia', Nepali Times eSpecial). At some point we have to hit the middle in politics and move on...politics alone will not transform Nepal or more accurately, its culture.

P Rana,
email

. Kiyoku Ogura is correct in saying in her Guest Column that the Newars of Kathmandu were exploited by political parties during the 1990 movement ('Days of future past', #294). And after the party bosses became prime ministers, their sacrifices and those of other Janjatis were quickly forgotten. They even forcefully expelled Ganesh Man Singh from the Nepali Congress even though he was the true democratic Newar Nepali. I think the feudal lords described by Mike Duggan in Letters in the same issue also applies to Nepal's political parties and their chieftains. They run their political parties as their personal fiefdoms and act as if they know everything. And after they got democracy in 1990, they thought they were indestructible and did ill-disciplined and corrupt activities in the name of democracy which led us to today's mess. The so-called democratic practices after 1990 left the Newars and Janjatis isolated from these political chieftains. Now the tables have turned and the chieftains are appealing to the same people they once betrayed. If this isn't power lust, what is it? The Nepali Times must understand the aspirations of Nepalis and must not support these corrupt leaders blindly. What about making them apologise first to Newars, Janjatis and to all Nepalis?

Kanchan Dahal,
Shantinagar

. The biggest surprise was the US, UN, EU, China and India welcoming the king's first speech of 21 April calling on the parties to submit the name of a prime minister. The EU went a step further and tried to coax the seven-party alliance to accept the king's offer. The diplomats even went to Koirala's residence and tried to influence the alliance before it could issue its official reaction to the King's speech. India, on the other hand, heartily welcomed the speech one day and upon seeing the people's refusal of the speech, expressed caution the very next day. Hasn't it now become obvious that these foreign powers are not the least concerned about the plight and sentiments of the Nepali people? Can we rely on 'friends' at times like these when we most need them? We should now learn to stand on our own feet.

Bibek Singh,
Kathmandu

. Thank you so much for the piece by Naresh Newar ('A day in the life of the riot police', Nepali Times eSpecial) in your online edition. It is rare to see such reports in the media these days. What we have been forced to read and watch are news about the cruelty and inhumanity of the security forces. We have seen one side of the story too often: the masses, the police raining down blows, the police with their guns aimed at the crowd, the security forces portrayed as inhuman beasts. The tv cameras never highlighted instances when officers helped to defuse a volatile situation and protect civilians from harm. The Nepali public has a right to be informed on the situation in its entirety, and not be fed just one facet of the issue. The public deserves more respect from the media who should offer a balanced view so we can make our own informed decisions. Telling only half the truth is lying. Thanks to Mr Newar for showing us the other side.

Srikhala Sharma,
Kathmandu

. Photographs of bloody riots and reports of the wounded can communicate the effects of the present crisis but how can you help to engage people in finding the best way out of it? During my last visit to Nepal in February, I could find no one who was prepared to support the politicians, the Maoists or the king. The family was their first concern and how to earn enough money to survive today, let alone tomorrow. Winning the understanding, trust and support of the People for these priorities must now be the first objective of all right thinking people in Nepal. As a long time friend of Nepal forced to watch the present situation unfolding from a distance, may I be allowed to suggest that it could be timely to invite each of the political parties to set out its political manifesto? What are they committed to delivering for the benefit of the people? Apportioning blame is no longer helpful. What is important is to present the politicians of all colours with a clear challenge and opportunity: to lead the way out. It is up to them to give this leadership. I imagine that all Nepalis will want to hear what it is that they have to offer.

Tim Harward,
Central Himalaya Project, UK

. We the people may have won but there are some ifs and buts. The mistakes of 1990 should not be repeated. There should be a referendum on whether to keep the monarchy or not and if we do, under what arrangement. There should be adequate provision for Maoists to join the mainstream. Armed forces should be squarely under civilian authority, not under the king. Those who committed atrocities during the protests should be brought to justice. Banks should open. And heck, the American Consular Office should reopen so folks can get visas.

B Yonzon,
email