Your editorial 'Public intellectualism' (#319) best describes Nepal's current situation. It will take time to bring the Maoists, who have indulged in barbaric acts for the past 10 years, to civilised mainstream politics. But it's difficult to understand why so-called civil society rarely apportions blame fairly on all sides. If we are afraid to talk now, when the Maoists don't officially rule, god knows what we'll do when they come to power. We need strong law and order-even when the lawbreakers are Maoists.

Bimal Bastola,
New York

. Your editorial on not speaking out was on target, but you could've made your point in less leaden prose. Your usual crisp style is much better for saying things that sound suspiciously self-righteous.

Kamal Humagain,
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