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I met a few Maoists in Pokara in 1996, they were my hotel staff.

They were convinced that Maoism (Communism) was the only way to overturn the Rana monarchy, because "Nepal is a poor country" (a rationale I was to hear over and over again, even though it made no logical sense). They were a bit peeved and embarrassed when I reminded them that Communism had failed everywhere it had been tried. I checked out the next morning, not wanting to have my throat cut while sleeping.

But something I also heard again and again was the absolute and total corruption of the monarchy. According to the locals, they stole the trekking fees, visa fees, aid money, and virtually anything else they could get their hands on. Evidence was all around: everywhere in Nepal there are half-completed bridges, buildings, roads. Even if brand new (and supported by foreign aid) buildings and structures were falling apart due to shoddy construction and substandard materials (the rest going to the monarchical pocket).

It's also true (notoriously so) that Cambodia is or at least was supplying arms to the Maoists. After 1975 and then in 1979, Cambodia was awash in arms (AKs, M-16s, B-40s, grenades, mines) supplied by both the U.S. (pre-1975) and China (from 1975 to 1979). It was proved beyond mere anecdote that several Tamil restaurants in Phnom Penh were illicit arms depots supplying various South Asian insurgencies, notably the Tamil Tigers and the Nepali Maoists. The arms trade operated almost openly out of (for example) the "Rani" restaurant on Street 53 and also from another Tamil restaurant (name forgotten) on Street 130 directly across the street from Sharkey Bar.

Both restaurants had great Tamil food, by the way. You just had to ignore (or pretend you were ignoring) the constant stream of shady characters carrying Zero aluminum briefcases back and forth through the restaurant, filled with either heroin or bundles of Ben Franklins.