The violence on the streets of Kathmandu on Monday was completely uncalled for. But the blame-game of pinning it on the Maoists or the vigilantes of the ancien regime is no less regrettable. The political class must understand that it can't be business as usual for a parliament reinstated after a ceaseless struggle of four years and an unprecedented popular uprising. The parliament needs to work and show explicitly that it's engaged in executing the agenda of the April uprising. If it dithers, as it did in finalising the historic parliamentary proclamation early this week, street violence can erupt without warning. The Jana Andolan has proved that prohibitory orders are meaningless if the government doesn't have the confidence of the people.

Chandan Mishra,
email

. So it is in a democracy that the people who expressed their free opinion in support of the king are being arrested. So much for freedom of speech...you have to always favour those in the power and never speak against them. Are you guys in the media watching?

Rahul Shrestha,
email

. Since last several years I have been a frequent reader of Nepali Times and consider it as an example of objective journalism. However, I see a certain imbalance in your coverage. There are calls to punish those who put down last month's demonstrations. But how about the all the murders and atrocities of the last 10 years of conflict? What do we say to the victims of those who lost their relatives? When will they get justice?

Niraj Shrestha,
email

. Democratic processes are by definition slow as you say in your editorial ('Guns and slogans', #297). Issues need to be examined from every angle. All sides need to be given a voice. But that's precisely the reason parliamentary deliberations have to open to the public, so that people know where their leaders stand on any issue. The seven party alliance committed a collective mistake by debating the declaration in private rather than on the floor of the house. All this led to an avoidable orgy of arson Monday afternoon.

Binod Das,
Teku