Nepal, April 22 -- Nepali governments have a habit of engaging in negotiations only when a conflagration breaks out. Biplav proved to be a tougher nut to crack than Oli-Dahal had imagined

"We will give a fitting response to the fascist government that in the name of banning party has been carrying out search operations and violent activities against our leaders and cadres across the country," Netra Bikram Chand Biplav-led Nepal Communist Party stated in a March 27 communique. Asserting that it was "the true communist party", the group claimed fighting it was for the welfare of the people and had no option to opposing the government's crackdown on it.

That more than 400 supporters of Biplav have been arrested within a few weeks indicates...