2/10/2006: Elections called by Nepal's King Gyanendra to convince his people that he is moving towards democracy have backfired, with a low turnout signalling a rejection of his seizure of power and more protests in the streets. The turnout of voters was only 18 percent in Kathmandu, 12 percent in Pokhara and 36 percent in Biratnagar. The last time polls were held turnout averaged 60% nationwide.

There were nationwide protests February 9th against the killing of Umesh Chandra Thapa, a local leader of the Communist Party of Nepal-CPN. He was shot dead Feb. 8 by the Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in the eastern city of Dang, while protesting against municipal elections. Thousands of opposition protesters flooded the streets of Nepal's capital as early results showed pro-government candidates sweeping local elections.

On the heels of the municipal elections, fresh violence erupted with the Maoists ambushing a security convoy and triggering a clash killed at least six people. The insurgents triggered an explosion that set at least three security vehicles ablaze and brought retaliatory fire by security forces.
Meanwhile, Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal aka Prachanda made a surprise appearance in Nepal, with the two biggest dailies, Kantipur and its sister publication, the Kathmandu Post, carrying an extensive interview with the underground leader .
“We have an army, we have guns,” Prachanda said. “Let’s sit together with all including the seven parties. Let’s decide together who should be commanders, commissars, chief of the army. Let’s make a national army.” The army, he said, would support a constituent assembly — an electoral college that would write a new constitution for Nepal, turning it into a republic from a constitutional monarchy. “Let’s form a parallel government of the parties and the Maoists,” the rebel supremo said. “We will accept it if the people want an active monarch. If the people say republic, all should accept that.” He said King Gyanendra closed the doors for talks when he seized power by force last year and his motives would be suspect if he called a ceasefire now. “If the ceasefire comes with the intention of defusing the movement, we won’t accept it. We will reciprocate positively if the ceasefire seems to be leading to meaningful dialogue. But we don’t see that possibility.” More

12- Point understanding between parties and Maoists | Nepal News | Latest Posts To Indybay On Nepal

2/2/2006: Street protests continued across Nepal on Thursday even after the previous day’s ‘Black Day’ march by Nepalese citizen on the first anniversary of King Gyanendra’s power seizure was met by force and brutality. Hundreds of activists carried out protest in Nepal’s Rupandehi district, shouting slogans, throwing stones and bricks at riot police before they were caned and chased away. Journalists and activists who have been protesting against curbs on media freedom were detained.
Three dozen journalists were arrested in Nepal Wednesday as they held demonstrations to protest against the curbs imposed on media after King Gyanendra's assumption of absolute power a year ago.

On Thursday January 26th, 2006, police opened fire on a group protesting against King Gyanendra in a resort town in western Nepal. Clashs between police and pro-democracy protesters started on January 20th, with Nepali riot police firing tear gas, using water cannons and beating back demonstrators in baton charges. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists also reports that security forces in Kathmandu manhandled journalists, took them into control, seized communication equipment from them, prohibited their movement and threatened some journalists who were trying to cover the recent conflict.

Nepal's main political parties have announced that they will hold nationwide protests and hoist black flags on February 1st, the day King Gyanendra seized absolute power last year. In Nepal, waving black flags or wearing a black armband or headband is a way of registering protest. The announcement of the "Black Day" followed a one-day general strike called by the seven-party alliance on Thursday that paralysed the nation, shutting down offices and shops along with businesses and schools.

King Gyanendra, as part of a promise to restore democracy, announced municipal polls for February 8th followed by national elections before April 2007. A coalition of the seven top political parties and Maoists rebels oppose thegovernment's plans arguing they will legitimize King Gyanendra's seizure of direct control over the central government. The Municipal polls look set to fail, opposition parties said on Friday. “The number of candidates registering for the polls didn’t even match the total seats available for contesting,” said Pradeep Nepal, spokesman of the Nepal Communist Party .

Nepali Diaspora in United States is preparing a massive rally in Washington DC on January 29th. “The rally is being taken out to send a clear message to King Gyanendra that ignoring the mainstream political parties is not in his best interest,”

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