After three weeks in balmy southern Thailand, far from the corruptos and crazed Maoists that so dominate the news in Nepal these tragic days, it was with a deep sense of trepidation I re-entered the kingdom a few days ago only to read with a sense of bitter humour a news item detailing how the Maoists had invaded two mass meetings being held by the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninists) in different parts of the country. They had stormed the stage, torn up the party flags and busted-up the loud-speakers, yelling slogans extolling their own weirdly specific version of the revolution. They then proceeded to tie up the Communist politicians on stage and kidnap them in front of thousands of people. Whatever happened to solidarity in the face of the reactionary running dog hegemonistic lackeys and stooges of the imperialists? How is it that the Maoists hate the Marxists so much, never mind the Leninists? Aren't the reds supposed to despise and purge everyone else? Aren't they all in the same proverbial boat, no matter how leaky and pointless? And where does that leave capitalist roaders like myself? Maybe, just maybe, sidelined and forgotten to the extent that we can go about our lives and our "business-making" in peace while the various factions keep busy in persecuting and attacking each other! Hey, I could live with that.

Oliver Jensen,
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