Election Preparation, Nepal Style: Bomb Making, Beatings, Killing Candidates

On the eve of CA election, the government was not able to guarantee sufficient security to voters, candidates and election observers on 9 April as revealed by the reports of INSEC district representatives from across Nepal.

Maoist cadre Gopal Sunar, 36 of Mehalkuna VDC-3 was killed in police firing during a demonstration by Maoists at Mehalkuna Police Post in Surkhet district. Cadres of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) have beaten up two election observers affiliated with the National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) in Kaski district. Rudra Timilsina and Gopal Khadka, who were on a visit to observe election-related activities in Janajagriti Higher Secondary School in Sarangkot VDC were beaten up as they reached the place with their identity cards. The YCL cadres accused him of being an observer affiliated to political party. Balram Koirala, election observer affiliated to National Election Monitoring Alliance (NEMA) said that he managed to escape the YCL attack by fleeing. Four UML and three Maoist cadres have been injured in a clash in polling station at Bhumesthan Secondary School in Birtadeurali VDC-1 at 4 pm on 9 April in Kavre district.

It is necessary for the government to guarantee sufficient security for all voters, candidates, employees and observers on Election Day.

Despite the commitments from party leaders, the Constituent Assembly code of conduction has not been maintained in practice. These incidents before the polls violated Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and Article 25 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) 1966. INSEC urges the leaders of political parties not to repeat these incidents and to transform the commitments into actions. They are urged not to encourage violent activities and to work for successful polls.

Details

In Kaski, Cadres of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) have beaten up two election observers affiliated to National Election Observation Committee (NEOC) on 9 April afternoon. Rudra Timilsina and Gopal Khadka, who were on a visit to observe election-related activities in Janajagriti Higher Secondary School in Sarangkot VDC were beaten up as they reached the place with their identity cards. The YCL cadres had accused him of being an observer affiliated to political party. Balram Koirala, election observer affiliated to National Election Monitoring Alliance (NEMA) said that he managed to escape the YCL attack by fleeing.

Three YCL cadres are injured in the bomb blast at the house of YCL area in-charge Lal Bahadru Dhami in Gadukhati VDC -5 in Bajura district. The bomb went off at 10.30 a.m in the Dhami’s house on 8 April. Lalu Raut, 22, Dal Dhami and the other whose name hasn’t been identified yet are among the injured. Raut’s condition is critical and has been taken outside the district for further treatment by YCL cadres. Likewise, the house owner, YCL area in-charge Dhamai is under police control. The house where the bomb exploded is near the election booth.

Locals claimed the Maoists were preparing for booth capture.

Seven people are dead in an April 8 firing in Lamahi of Dang district. Among those killed, Jiulal Chaudhary of Chailahi VDC-2, Bhim Bahadur Pun and Sital Chaudhary of Saudihar VDC-5 and Punjung Singha and Prakash GM of Rajpur VDC-9 died on the spot. Similarly, Amar Piyam of Rolpa lost his life in Nepalgunj while Labaru Chuadhary of Chulahi VDC-2 died in Butwal while being treated at the hospital. Maoists claimed all the persons killed were their cadres. According to Maoists, APF opened fire at their cadres when they were heading east from west of Lamahi. The report said at least 24 people were injured in the incident. Victims Sonu Pande, Rambahadur Pande and Nuamkant Bohora of Chailahi VDC-2, Khum Bahadur Karki of Sisiniya VDC-5, Dor Bahadur Gharti, Khim Bahadur Chaudhary, JP Chaudhary, Baju Chaudhary, Suresh Chaudhary, Govinda Chaudhary and Dalbahadur Chaudhary of Bela VDC are being treated at Primary health post at Lamahi while 11 injured people are being treated at Bhairawa and two treated at Nepalgunj.

Bimal Adhikari

Surkhet district is tense following the killing of UML candidate Rishi Raj Sharma on 8 April. He was contesting the CA elections from constitutency no.1 of Surkhet under FPTP system. Police arrested ANFSU district member Ek Raj Sharma from the same area and around 50 UML activiists and students from Toli Khola in Chinchu VDC-9. Sharma was heading from Maintada VDC to Mehalkuna in a vehicle with plate number Bhe.1 Cha 760 at the time he was shot dead.

Bus driver Deepak Oli is being treated in Mid-Regional Hospital in Surkhet. Two local youths have also been injured in the clash that occurred between parties and are taken to Teaching Hospital in Kohalpur, Nepaljung for treatment. Protesting the incident, locals and UML activists vandalised four vehicles. Similarly, owing to the exacerbating situation, police fired their weapons in the Mehalkuna VDC-1 and Sahila Sunar was injured. In this area also the local administration enforced a curfew at 9 p.m. on 9 April.

Four UML and three Maoist cadres were injured in a clash in the polling station at Bhumesthan Secondary School in Birtadeurali VDC-1 at 4 pm on 9 April in Kavre district. The incident occurred when a dispute between the two parties heated up, following the Maoist demand for open voting, removal of the Maoist flag near the booth and closure of the road to the polling station via the Maoist office, by the UML. Sancha Bir Tamang, his brother Uttar Bahadur Tamang of Birtadeurali VDC-1 sustained head injuries while UML’s Binod Thapa and Raj Kumar Lama were injured in a baton attack. Maoists said they had retaliated when the UML cadres manhandled their district committee member Usha Sedain adding their cadres Hari Panta, Hari Sedain and Bodhraj Sedain were injured in the incident.

Cadres of Maoist-affiliated Young Communist League (YCL) thrashed three CPN-UML cadres at Jyamirgadi VDC of Jhapa district on 8 April night. District member of ANNISU Kailash Kattel, Bharat Rai and UML cadre Gajendra Khawas were beaten up while they were returning home from an electoral campaign in local Bansal Tea State, said UML district member Shiva Dhungel. He added that Khawas was severely injured in the beating. The injured are being treated at Dhulabari Hospital.

In Nawalparasi, Maoists beat up UML cadres Ramakanta Chapagain and Tanka Parajuli of Shivamandir VDC-9 on 8 April night after surrounding their houses. UML said Maoists thrashed UML cadres charging them of mistreating Maoists while they were in an election campaign. The injured are being treated at a local community hospital.

Maoist Lamjung district member Labaraj Gurung of Ilampokhari VDC-2 was injured in an attack by CPN-UML cadre Jiwan Bahadur Ghale on 8 April night. Gurung, who was attacked with a Khukuri, has been airlifted to Besishahar Community Hospital for treatment on 9 April morning. Similarly, former VDC chairman of Ghale Uttarkanya VDC and UML district member Prem Ghale was injured when YCL cadres attacked him with Khukuri at his home on 9 April. Son of Prem, Balkrishna Ghale received minor injuries in the attack. Police informed that injured Ghale was also airlifted to Beshishahar Community Hospital for treatment.

In Dolakha, CPN-UML cadre Gyan Bahadur Karki of Keramudi VDC-1 has been injured in NC attack at same VDC on 9 April afternoon. Kark was injured as NC cadres including Dal Bahadur Tamang, Chavi Lama, Balu Tamang, Bhim Bahadur Tamang, Rajendra Tamang, Dhana Tamang pelted stones at him. Karki, who was returning after attending an all party meeting, sustained several injuries to his face. The victim is undergoing treatment at district headquarters Charikot.

Twenty NC cadres were injured in a clash with the Maoists in Kholagaon VDC of Rukum district on 9 April afternoon. Among the injured are Man Bahadur KC, Mohan Shah, Ganesh Dangi, Khadka Dangi, Pratap Devkota, Nirmal Shah and Raju Shah. NC candidate from Rukum constituency no. 2 Prem Prasad Oli said the Maoists had taken into captivity 25 NC cadres. Following the clash, the Maoists abducted five NC cadres. The abductees are Bhupendra Shah, Ganesh Dangi, Hirajung Shah, Laxman Shah and Bhim KC of Kholagaon VDC-4. Earlier, some three hundred Maoists attacked seventeen NC activists at Bijayashori VDC-3 on 8 April night. NC activists including Govinda Bista, Chandra Bhandari, Dil Bahadur Thapa, Dal Bahadur Budha, Tej Bahadur Bista, Yagya Bahadur Bista, Yogesh Bista, Yam Bahadur Bista, Manoj Bista and Tilak Bista were injured in the attack.

In Dhading, Nepali Congress activists Karna Tamang of Sundaradevi VDC and Hira Bahadur Tamang of Lachyang VDC left their villages on 9 April following a YCL threat to cooperate with Maoists or leave the villages. The Tamangs are now staying in Kathmandu. Meanwhile, YCL activists assaulted Dhruva Raj Pandey of Raluka VDC-4 and thrashed him at his house on 8 April.

In Siraha, A group of Terai Madhes Mukti Morcha (TMMM) has abducted Manoj Karki, 27 of Govindapur Malhanma VDC-8 on 7 April night from his home on a charge of spying. The whereabouts of the victim is unknown. The group that arrived at Karki’s home about 9:30 pm asked him to go with them and there has been no contact from the abductors, according to the victim’s elder sister Sanju Karki. Meanwhile, district military commander of TMMM Bikash took responsibility for the abduction.

In Dhankuta, A group of twelve YCL cadres assaulted Chanuwa village committee president of Jan Shakti Party Padam Bahadur Poudel, 53 on 8 April night at his home on charge of distributing money provided by his party. Poudel sustained injuries to his head, legs and hands. He is undergoing treatment at the district hospital. The YCL cadres also looted forty thousand rupees and one telephone set after the attack. Poudel’s son, wife and brother were also beaten by the YCL cadres in the same incident.

In Surkhet, Maoist cadre Gopal Sunar, 36 of Mehalkuna VDC-3 was killed by police firing on 9 April morning during a demonstration by Maoists at Mehalkuna Police Post. The situation came to normalcy after curfew in including at Birendranagar and Chinchu.

Informal Sector Service Centre(INSEC) Kathmandu, Nepal

Alan Gray is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of NewsBlaze Daily News and other online newspapers. He prefers to edit, rather than write, but sometimes an issue rears it’s head and makes him start hammering away on the keyboard.

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