When local newspapers published an 11-point directive by the Maoist leadership to its district units two weeks ago, many said it was part of a disinformation campaign by electoral rivals. Even the Maoists disowned the circular and threatened to sue the paper that published it ('Booth youth', #391).

They needn't have bothered to deny any of it. In the past weeks, the YCL has been behaving exactly according to instructions in the circular. They are following the 11 points by the letter.

'Make it difficult for NC workers to stay in the villages': Point 3. 'Make the oppositional forces fight amongst each other': Point 4. 'Don't care for your life . use all the tricks known to turn elections in our favour.': Point 8.

That is exactly what is happening on the ground with stepped up attacks on the campaign rallies of the NC, UML and RPP. By making a mountain out of a molehill over a regular consignment of security material from India on Tuesday and shutting down central Nepal, the cadre prove they will stop at nothing to prevent an election that they think they will not win.

Number 4 of the directive is: "Work to divide the international forces especially India, America and the European Union so that they cannot monitor our activities."

To be sure, Maoist cadre have been killed but in violence provoked first by the YCL. It is high time the international community spoke out with one voice and in clear words to counter this deliberate attempt to sabotage polls. UNMIN, especially, can't be stuck in its usual diplomatese when elections are once more being held hostage.

Throughout history, politicians who have pronounced "peace in our time" have been accused of appeasing war-mongers. Unfortunately, history has often proven critics of peaceniks right.

By their use of threats and violence in this election campaign, the Maoists have bolstered the argument of those who say the comrades were never serious about the vote. Their actions are jeopardising the peace process and aiding and abetting absolute monarchists who want to turn the clock back.

Privately and in closed-door meetings of the Big Three in Baluwatar, Pushpa Kamal Dahal makes commitments to shun election violence. But at the hustings the very next day he repeats his threat to resort to "civil revolt" if his party loses. He defends YCL excesses, lashes out at royalists and Indo-Americans of trying to undermine his chances in the polls. This week, in classic blame-the-messenger style, he has lashed out at us in the media.

The Maoists have a good chance of doing well in next month's elections because they represent real change. But their refusal, or inability, to rein in the YCL is seriously undermining that chance.