YCL violence mounts

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 12 March: YCL violence and obstruction of election mounted as Nepal’s first constituent assembly election to draft a new constitution for massive political, economic and social changes is only 29 days away.
Maoists Wednesday attacked a CPN-UML public meeting at Ramechap injuring nine persons, including a candidate and lawmaker.
Conservative RPP said two workers were abducted in Chitwan.
After four party activists were attached in his district Dhankuta Tuesday during electioneering, Rashtriya Janasakti Party (RJP) Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa the result of the election ‘ has no meaning’ and charged government ignored and didn’t act on complaints lodged against YCL of unacceptable ‘ dacoit-style’ behaviour.
Thapa made blunt charge at a news conference in the capital Wednesday.
CPN-UML leader and former foreign minister KP Sharma Oli said his party ‘won’t be cowed down” by Maoist abuses and said the CPN(Maoist) was obstructing his party’s campaign in his district, Jhapa.
But Chairman Prachanda said in the capital he has information of possible assassination of candidates and discussed it matter Wednesday with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who charged one day earlier at a news conference Maoists were disturbing electioneering.
Meanwhile, the party said 25,000 student loyalists were being deployed for the vote Thursday.
Koirala discussed security along the open 1,700 km Indo-Nepal border with Indian Ambassador Shib Shankar Mukherjee and sought New Delhi’s cooperation Wednesday to curb cross-border anti-election activities.
Nepal has sought curbs on activities by India-based Nepalese elements planning to disrupt polls.
One person was shot and injured Wednesday at Haraiya VDC in Bara.
Sujata Koirala was greeted with black flags as she campaigned in Sunsari where Madesh Jatantrik Forum chairman Upendra Yadav is attempting to wrest the constituency vacated by premier Koirala for her daughter.
Candidates haven’t been able to enter rural areas in the terai because of threats from anti-election groups demanding independence.
Voters don’t know the meaning of assembly elections as they demand schools ,roads and water from candidates.
One Maoist candidate said he doesn’t know the significance of the vote and said he is voting for a republic because his party ordered him to do so.
Reports are pouring in of several hundreds of INGO representatives waiting to catch flights to Nepal from Europe and USA to observe elections.
Election has boosted ‘election tourism’, one travel agent said.
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