The international community is watching the situation cautiously. Of all the countries, China and North Korea appear the happiest with the prospects of total control by the Maoists. The United Kingdom, United Nations Mission to Nepal (UNMIN) and Norway have offered assistance to the integration (PLA into Nepal Army) process while India which has so far been for the Maoists forming the government, now appears apprehensive about the prospect of complete control of the army by the ex-rebels.

Given the fact that a large number of ‘Gorkhas’ serve in the Indian Army and it has traditionally friendly relations with the Nepal Army, the latter’s feared transformation literally into a red-guard is something that may not send a comfortable message to India, especially in a situation where the Maoists are spreading fast in nearly 200 districts spread over 15 states of the country. The US position is no different.

But the Maoists have so far succeeded in attracting popular sympathy in the country as the political victim, prevented from forming the government despite emerging as the largest party. The international forces and their ‘domestic puppets’ are of course being blamed for this ‘denial’. The Maoists’ message is simple — we will take power, and on our terms.

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