By Kristy Tridhavee
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Asia
KATHMANDU, Nepal – After 10 years of insurgency by Maoists and almost 240 years of monarchy by the family of King Gyanendra, Nepal is set to have elections on April 10th that will elect an assembly which will transform the country. However, ahead of the elections the United Nations fears that voters face violation and intimidation from supporters of political parties.
A UN report attributed most of the acts to the Maoist party. In its report, it wrote, “The Young Communist League and other Maoist cadres continued to be involved in the largest proportion of these incidents.”. In mid-March youth cadres beat up workers of the Communist Party of Nepal, and harmed one person so severely that he needed a hospital stay. In February, the Nepali Congress accused Maoists of setting a candidate’s home on fire. When the candidate attempted to flee, he was hit with a boulder and fractured his hip.
The UN Mission in Nepal and the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights found that during campaigning there have been a number of abductions and explosions near voting sites. There are three reported deaths thus far and numerous injured persons. Some rebel groups in Nepal’s southern plain region have vowed to disrupt the elections.
The organizations also reported there was credible evidence that State resources were being used to buy votes through “donations” of food, clothing, and other goods.
The Nepalese government tightened security to decrease the violent incidents. About 135,000 police were deployed to keep watch until elections on Thursday. In addition, helicopters are patrolling the skies until the election and will later be used to transport the ballot boxes from remote polling stations.
The up and coming elections are crucial to the country’s future because the newly elected assembly will write a new constitution. This will likely result in a republic, a foundation to lasting peace with Maoists, and a change to the workings of the government. The assembly will also decide how ethnic groups will be represented in the government.
For more information, please see:
The Hindu – UN Asks Political Parties to Stop ‘Intimidatory Behaviour’ – 7 April 2008
International Herald Tribune – Nepal Prepares to Vote with an Uneasy Eye on Ex-Insurgent Candidates – 6 April 2
Reuters – Tight Security in Place Ahead of Nepal Elections – 5 April 2008
