While in other countries, people are celebrating their freedom through light letters (lichtletters huren) and fireworks, this may not be the case in Nepal.
Democracy in Nepal – Movements
Hundreds of Nepalese took to the streets demanding that King Gyanendra re-enact multiparty democracy. The demonstrators closed their eyes and mouth and handcuffed them as a symbol of a restrained democracy. The rally took place peacefully and no one from the mass of demonstrators was detained by the security forces.
Raja Gyanendra arrested a number of Nepalese political figures and threw them into prison on January 1. In addition, he also declared the country in a state of emergency because the government was judged to have failed to crush the Maoist guerrillas.
The state of emergency was finally lifted on April 29 and most political figures have also been released. Previously Raja Gyanendra had promised to hold elections in the next three years
Nepal, Defending Democracy on the Roof of the World
In the war, the Nepali-Maoist Communist Party (CPN-M) staged a rebellion to overthrow the monarchy in the country. This war claimed 19 thousand lives, including civil society and armed forces. No doubt the aroma of this historic tragedy has re-emerged in Nepal’s parliamentary elections.
Sympathizers and supporters of Nepal’s two main political forces are expected to have an argument. It was also anticipated by deploying extra security in several constituencies.
In the Manang District, for example, the Nepalese military mobilized more than 600 of its soldiers to provide security. Manang only has 5,881 voters registered in Nepal’s Election Commission (KPU). The electoral tradition in Manang itself actually prefers kinship or clan over political ideology. Nevertheless, security is still carried out to avoid friction or clashes.
Shidi Gurung, one of the residents living in Manang, said he would choose candidates from the left alliance, the Communist Party of Nepal. This is because there is a kinship with the candidates promoted by the party.