Just one in 10 vote in controversial poll

Turnout was low in Nepal’s first election in seven years, with less than 10 percent of voters casting their vote in the controversial municipal poll, the Himalayan kingdom’s Election Commission (EC) said on Wednesday. The low turnout was seen as a success by the main political parties and Maoist rebels who had been campaigning for an election boycott. They argued the election could not take place while King Gyanendra retains absolute power in Nepal. Nepalese police shot dead an opposition activist, Umesh Thapa - a member of the Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) party - during a reportedly peaceful anti-election demonstration in Dang district, 400 km southwest of Kathmandu. At least three people died in two separate clashes between troops and Maoist rebels, officials said. Most of those who did vote were government staff, army and police personnel, their families and ordinary citizens who support the king’s rule. The poor showing is a direct result of Maoist threats to attack polling stations, voters and election workers. At least two candidates have been killed by the insurgents and others attacked. Due to a lack of candidates, voting took place in only 36 municipalities in 28 districts. Out of 4,146 municipal posts, only 618 posts were contested by 1,682 candidates – mainly pro-monarchy parties. Some of those who did cast their ballots said they had been compelled to. “I was forced to vote. I had no choice,” said a 40-year-old government worker in Kathmandu, requesting not to be named. According to reports from state employees, all civil servants were given strict instructions to vote or risk losing their job. Polling, where it appeared to be taking place, could not be verified by local journalists and foreign correspondents who were refused entry into the polling booths. Most were located in temples, schools and government offices and heavily guarded by soldiers. “We have orders from our high command not to let you in,” said a soldier to a group of journalists who wanted to observe polling at a station in central Kathmandu. A large number of demonstrators, including political leaders and student activists from the seven main parties, were arrested during anti-election rallies in the capital. The government took the threat from insurgents seriously. Home Minister Kamal Thapa had given instructions to security personnel to shoot anyone trying to actively disrupt the elections.