Nepals giant neighbours, India and China, as well as western donors, have grown increasingly concerned about the prolonged struggle to build a stable nation to replace a centuries-old monarchy. They fear that without effective government, the poor country of nearly 27 million people, which is dependent on tourism, remittances and aid, is becoming a haven for militants and criminal gangs. Alleging ballot-box fraud, the Maoist leader and former rebel chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal — better known by his war pseudonym Prachanda — said authorities must immediately stop counting the votes cast in Tuesdays election. He told reporters ballot boxes were taken away and hidden for several hours, and ballot papers were stuffed or swapped. We want an immediate end of vote counting and a review of the whole process of the election, Prachanda said. He did not say what action he would take if he was not heeded and it was not clear if his party would launch street protests. Nearly 100 Maoist supporters and former fighters pumped their fists in the air and shouted we are ready to fight as Prachanda spoke to the media at his partys main office in an upmarket area of the capital, Kathmandu. The election commission rejected Prachandas demand and said all parties should respect the peoples verdict in the election, called to choose a new constitutional assembly.
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 04:42:41 +0000
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