The Election for the Members of Constituent Assembly of Nepal is almost here. April 10 is going to be a historic day for the country, and its our opportunity to feel like we contributed to the historic milestone (of course most of us were on the streets during the April Uprising that is foundation to what is going to happen) so
LETS VOTE!
I can not wait to vote. I refused to go on a trip to eastern Nepal (that could have been financially beneficial) because I would have skipped voting. Here I feel sad for those Nepalis leaving outside the country who will all be unable to vote. And, also for my journalist colleagues, who are performing their duties outside their place, because they all will be unable to vote. The government turned deaf ears to the demands of the journalist organizations, most notably Federation of Nepalese Journalists, to provide the journalists right to vote in the proportional system from where they are.
When the Election Act was passed, the rights were given to army, police, Maoists army in cantonment and other government officials on duty but not the journalists! It’s sad but most of these journalists will be watchdog of the election and their presence will certainly help for free and fair election and that’s nothing less than the VOTING!
* * *
Today is the last day of the election campaign! And, while I am writing this in my room, I can hear UML campaign outside my house. Nepali Congress and Maoists have long ago completed this area.
Notable in this election was the use of media by the political parties to campaign – the ‘affiliated weeklies’ and Maoists’ own daily was doing it all the time through news but for the mainstream dailies – for they were trying hard for balanced coverage – blatant support wasn’t the case. So, the parties gave advertisements to them – all of them including RPP Nepal which vocal for ‘democracy with King’. I also saw UML ad on television.
Well, then newspapers are going to be filled up with ads from the parties in next elections (which should happen within two and half years – six months of it being possible extension).
* * *
The news of electoral violence hasn’t decreased. Once again, Maoists and their Young Communist League leading the wrong way. They are beating the candidates, blocking other parties’ campaigns and even blocking journalists from going to other parties’ campaigns. That’s sad, very sad.
And, Prachanda asked them all to be ‘Gandhi for a week’. I am afraid, are they supposed to do anything after the election?
* * *
With the satisfaction of election being held, there are also fears of what next? What mandate the people will give? And, what if Maoists lose heavily?
The questions can not be answered now, let’s see what’s in stake, but I am sure that April 10 and weeks after it are going to be very, very interesting and I hope that they will bring good results to the country.
