Nepalis trickled into schools, temples and ancient courtyards yesterday to vote in local elections seen by many as the first real test of King Gyanendra's rule since he seized power a year ago.
The seven main political parties and Maoist rebels fighting to topple the king urged a boycott of polls they consider a sham aimed at giving the monarch a veneer of legitimacy.
The rebels, fighting since 1996 to topple the monarchy and impose a communist state, launched several attacks around the country overnight and set off bombs near polling booths through the day. Eight Maoists and a soldier were killed in clashes with the security forces, offcials said yesterday.
PHOTO: AFP
One rebel was shot dead by the security forces while planting a landmine to prevent polling in Kailali district in western Nepal, the army said in a statement.
In another incident, two rebels and a soldier were killed in overnight clashes in eastern Dhankuta district, a police official said.
Meanwhile, voters turned out in small numbers in Kathmandu on a cool spring morning. Security was tight -- political activists said 10,000 police and soldiers were deployed in Kathmandu -- and at least 50 people were arrested to prevent anti-king rallies.
But small, sporadic protests did take place in the capital and in other cities, usually lasting only a few minutes until police arrived.
At one rally near a temple polling station in Kathmandu, protesters set fire to some straw, waved flags and chanted "Gyanendra -- thief! Leave the country!"
The rebels called a strike to disrupt voting, closing many shops and businesses and forcing traffic off the roads. The government also declared a public holiday.
A holiday atmosphere prevailed in Kathmandu. Children played soccer and badminton in the streets and the vegetable market did better business than most voting booths.
It was unclear how many people stayed away through fear of the rebels and how many were joining the boycott.
The palace says the polls are the first step in restoring democracy since Gyanendra sacked the government and took over on Feb. 1 last year, saying he was forced to act to end the Maoist rebellion -- that enters its 11th year next week -- and has killed more than 13,000 people.
"It's just a beginning step," said Colonel Kiran Rana, who turned up in plainclothes to cast his vote. "This is a start, we have got to give it a good go."
Mechanic Sri Krishna Tandukar said: "Time will tell whether it will make any difference."
But many say the elections are meaningless without the involvement of the political parties.
"When the political parties are not participating what is the use of having elections? These elections are unwanted," said 69-year-old Kamal Prasad Joshi. "They will not help the king, they will not help the people, they will not help the country."
The UN said last week at least 800 politicians and activists have been arrested and urged the royalist appointed government to free them.
The government has ordered the army to shoot anyone trying to disrupt the vote and held candidates in safe houses to protect them against the rebels, although some said they were held to stop them backing out.
Even some candidates elected unopposed fled south to India.
Yesterday's elections are for about 600 of more than 4,000 municipal seats up for grabs. In more than 2,200, voting has been delayed or canceled because no one dared defy the Maoists and stand.
In some stations soldiers and police heavily outnumbered voters, but at some booths small lines formed briefly.
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