Monday 30, 2009
This morning marked the second batch of Free Student Union elections in two weeks. The first elections were fiercely contested and the murder of one of the leaders of the UML-affiliated student wing later created havoc in Butwal. The effects of that violence are still being felt and there is the ongoing issue of stalled vote counting, which has kept temperatures high.
This morning I went to the gates of RR College to test the mood of the students massing for today’s rescheduled elections – initially cancelled because of violence. There was a massive voter turnout, something American readers – particularly American college students -- would scarcely understand.
Nepal lacks many things but activism and political involvement is not one of them. 60% of the population is under the age of 30.
At RR College, there was significant police presence controlling the entrance to the voting area. Vehicular traffic was blocked almost a kilometer from the college gate. A bit of scuffling could be observed here and there but the prevailing mood was youthful enthusiasm.
The following photographs were taken by my assistant Govinda Rijal.
The elections in Pokhara were not such a pretty picture.
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