Elections: Nepal-style

24/04/2008 BMS long-term workers Alan and Megan Barker describe how election day was for them in Surkhet, mid-west Nepal.The phone call came early on 9 April, the day before the elections to vote for a new assembly that could change the face of Nepali politics.

The familiar voice on the other end of the phone warned us to stay indoors as Surkhet was under a curfew. A local candidate had been shot dead during the night and the curfew was to prevent further trouble spilling onto the streets.

We looked out the window as a pick-up truck full of armed policemen drove up the street. After they had passed, a few of our neighbours gathered in the street discussing the night’s event but they soon dispersed when the police returned.

The curfew was lifted at 11am and, after that, more and more people ventured onto the street but there was very little motor traffic about. During the afternoon we decided that we would have a walk into the main shopping area (the bazaar) to see if any shops were open.

We passed a group of police, most of whom had a weapon of some sort: a rifle, a large stick, or machine gun. All were wearing riot gear and some had riot shields, but they were relaxing by a roadside temple and didn’t look in a state of high alert.

Nearer to the bazaar area lots of people stood around in groups chatting but most of the shops were closed. As we went on we noticed that everyone began to look in the same direction. Some people, who had been sitting outside their shop, picked up their chairs, went inside and pulled the shop shutter closed. Further down the road a group of young men were running up the street and then a large group of riot police appeared. We swiftly turned round and headed home.

What a contrast the next day! There seemed to be a party feel as people headed in large numbers to the voting stations. This was the first chance the people had to vote for several years while the political parties and the king in turn had tried to run the country without turning to ‘the people’ for their approval or otherwise. Our neighbour greeted us with a big grin as he announced loudly that he’d just been to vote.

Now the results are coming in and no-one could have expected what’s happening. The Maoists are leading the polls by quite a considerable margin. Previously involved in an armed revolution against the king and government, they declared a cease-fire a couple of years ago and now seem to be the people’s choice to lead the country towards a new constitution and possibly a new system of government.

An election won’t solve Nepal’s problems. A new constitution and new system of government of itself won’t change much either. We pray that the new leaders will have a desire to seriously address the many difficulties that continue to blight the land and the people.

Utilities

Nepal News

News from 2008