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Failed elections pile problems on Nepal's king

Posted on: Thursday, 9 February 2006, 08:24 CST

By Gopal Sharma and Terry Friel

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Elections called by Nepal's King Gyanendra to convince his people he is moving toward democracy have backfired, with a low turnout signaling a rejection of his power grab and the polls triggering fresh protests on Thursday.

Analysts say the unpopular king is running out of options and his days may be numbered.

The government says Wednesday's local elections for mayors and other minor officials were part of moves to put Nepal back onto the road to democracy after Gyanendra sacked the government and took control on February 1 last year.

But only 20 percent of voters turned out -- compared with more than 60 percent last time such polls were held -- in what analysts have called a resounding rejection in what was effectively a mini-referendum on royal rule.

The government blamed a boycott by political parties and threats by Maoist rebels.

"It has further deepened the crisis for the king," Tribhuvan University political lecturer Lok Raj Baral said. "He has reached the point of no return. It helped further polarize political forces into monarchist and anti-monarchist.

"The king is alone. He is totally isolated internally and internationally."

The killing by soldiers of an anti-poll protester during the vote sparked protests in Kathmandu on Thursday, with police firing teargas in one violent clash with brick-throwing youths.

Later, 3,000 angry protesters marched through residential streets demanding the release of the activist's body, now in a Kathmandu hospital after a post mortem.

Diplomats fear the political crisis and a 10-year Maoist revolt could spiral out of control and the country, sandwiched between India and China, could become a haven for international militant groups.

Washington described the polls as a "hollow attempt" by the monarch to legitimize his rule.

While India's ministry of foreign affairs called for a "genuine process of national reconciliation" to tackle what it called Nepal's grave challenges.

RUNNING OUT OF OPTIONS

"It's clear that the king does not have support," said Minendra Rijal, a leader of the Nepali Congress Party (Democratic) who is on the run from police.

"This was basically a ploy to sell to the international community that he is interested in democracy, which he is not," he said. "The world community now knows he has no support."

Rijal is one of dozens of politicians evading detention. The United Nations estimates at least 800 political prisoners are in custody.

He said the seven main parties will step up protests to force the king to talk to them and bring the Maoists into the political process.

Baral said Gyanendra was running out of options, with the guerrillas and the parties united in their demand for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution and review the role of the monarchy.

"There is no alternative. It is becoming a national consensus," he said. "(But) if he accepts a constituent assembly without any preconditions, his position is at stake."

So far the parties, themselves unpopular after years of turbulent and volatile misrule, have been unable to ignite a large-scale people's movement against the palace.

Foreign donors critical to Nepal have pressed the king to talk to the parties, but they have refused to strike any deal that does not involve the Maoists, after they forged a loose accord with the rebels.

Gyanendra justified his seizure of total power as necessary to end the Maoist rebellion, which has killed more than 13,000 people and enters its eleventh year next week.

But there has been no major progress toward peace.

The protesters demanding the release of the dead activist's body said they planned to continue their campaign and push for democracy.

"The king has to face the consequences. He is responsible," said 88-year-old Chanya Devi Parajuli, wearing a red-and-white Nepali Congress party flag around her neck and a green cardigan over her saree, referring to the dead man.

"I am not afraid. I don't care about myself. I care about my country, and I care about my people," she said, adding fiercely -- and to cheers from those around her -- that she would keep fighting for democracy.

As counting continued for the municipal polls, the election commission said royalist candidates had won 13 of the 36 mayoral jobs up for grabs and independents seven.

Source: REUTERS

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