It's the story of communist leaders all over the world-they just don't trust people. There are numerous fighters in the Maoist army who have undergone rigorous training, yet Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal recently chose his son, Prakash Dahal, as his security commander, responsible for coordinating his personal security. It is understood that Prakash has not gone through the war training necessary for such a position. Dahal has more than half-a-dozen PLA fighters as bodyguards and they carry modern weapons like M16s, Colt Commandos, etc. These fighters accompany Dahal to public meetings and informal gatherings. Maoist second-in-command Baburam Bhattarai has no intention of appearing to be less important than Dahal, and has three guards armed with M16s standing beside him, and another one watching his back.

This kind of security is unnecessary, and we have to ask Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula when this drama is going to end. Don't the Maoists say that they are the leaders of the people and that the people protect their leaders? So was all the security drama and paraphernalia in Tundikhel last week during Dahal's allegedly first public appearance in 25 years necessary? There were PLA fighters and volunteers all over Tundikhel and throughout his speech Dahal had Prakash on his left and another bodyguard to his right. Is the chairman paranoid or does he really believe he is that unsafe?