Himal Southasian magazine happens to be based in Kathmandu, from where with increasing horror we have watched the evolution of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal – and in the latest instance, the palace activism in particular following the royal takeover of 1 February 2005. Looking out over the Southasian landscape, we realise that a country that had made relatively good progress as a democracy following the People’s Movement of 1990 is being forced backwards in time, by rebel and royalty alike. In the cover feature of this issue, we have charted the course of both of these forms of extremism, scrutinising the continuing warfare and sudden democratic deficit in the country where we happen to be based. We also believe that editors and reporters must stand up as citizens when a society’s most basic values are under threat.
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