Analysis: Maoists strike east
By Rabindra Mishra
BBC Nepali service
The security strategy since August has changed the Maoist focus
The killing of 29 security force members by Maoists in Nepal's eastern district of Bhojpur is a major blow to the Nepalese army, which had claimed it was eroding the rebels' power.
Though few believed in the army's claim, there was a general impression that the rebels were finding it more difficult to launch big attacks against the joint mobilisation of the army, police and paramilitary forces.
However, the focus of the security agencies had been in the country's mid-west, where the rebels have their stronghold, and in the capital, Kathmandu, and its adjoining cities.
This strategy is said to have forced the rebels to move east to escape security operations.
The overnight attack by hundreds of rebels in Bhojpur proves their consolidation of power there.
Military assistance
In a recent interview with the BBC Nepali service, a senior leader and spokesman of the Maoists, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, said they were preparing big offensives.
The Bhojpur attack has shown that the morale of the rebels has not eroded
'Dozens killed' in Nepal attack
If the latest attack is the start of the campaign Mr Mahara claimed, the Nepalese army may have to gear itself up for further, possibly bigger assaults.
When they pulled out of the first peace talks in 2001, the rebels made several successful attacks on army barracks, killing hundreds of soldiers.
However, since the breakdown of the latest ceasefire in August, that situation has changed.
The Nepalese army has received military assistance and advice from various countries, including the United States, Britain and India.
This has boosted the morale of the security forces.
However, the Bhojpur attack has shown that the morale of the rebels has not eroded either.
Within the past few months, the rebels have announced the formation of eight of the nine autonomous regional governments they want to establish in the country.
They say that is in preparation for the takeover of the central government in Kathmandu.
Highly critical
Neither the government nor the rebels say they have closed the doors on peace talks.
King Gyanendra has tried to consolidate the monarchy's power
However, unless the Maoists give up their insistence on removing the monarchy, talks in the near future look unlikely.
King Gyanendra has sidelined all the political parties since he dismissed the elected government and took over executive power in August 2002.
Since then, he has tried to consolidate the power of the monarchy.
The king timed a recent visit to the mid-west with the ninth anniversary of the Maoist insurgency, which started in the region.
He has been visiting army headquarters and appearing in public around the country.
All the political parties have been highly critical of his assumption of executive power but so far he has ignored them.
The king knows that he has the full backing of the security forces and several international powers.
That is probably what gives him the confidence to defy other political forces.
Given this show of strength, the Maoists' dream of turning Nepal into a republic may not materialise soon.
The major political parties, despite their criticism of the king, have not yet opposed the institution of monarchy.
If they did change their position and join hands with the rebels in their republican demands, the king could find himself in deep trouble.
The student wings of some parties are now applying pressure for a republican stance.
It is difficult to say how likely this change of policy would be, but the king would be wise to pay heed to the warnings.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3529967.stmI'm not sure if the video is about the same battle that the above piece talks about:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39955000/rm/_39955061_nepal13_bryant_vi.ramactually i think the video is from the 23rd of march. Well after the article was written. So the video is more recent.
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