Since 1996, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) has been waging a ’p-eople's war’ to establish a communist republic in place of the extant constitutional monarchy. This conflict has now evolved into the most serious internal crisis facing the nation-state of Nepal since its founding in mid-18th century. And there are no signs of the fighting ending anytime soon. Hopes were raised in July 2001, when the government as well as the Maoists declared a ceasefire and began negotiations. But the talks broke down four month later and-the Maoists resumed hostilities. The country has since been under a state of emergency; fundamental rights of the citizens have been suspended; there are strict rules and regulations governing the press; and the military has been called out to tackle the Maoists. The killings continue on both sides and within six months of the emergency more people had lost their lives than in the six preceding years of the insurgency.