Katmandu, Nepal
Candidates in Nepal’s local elections were put in safe houses this week after a series of attacks by Maoist rebels. Last week, one candidate was shot dead and another was kidnapped; this week, one was wounded. The rebels aren’t the only ones who oppose the elections. All the opposition parties are boycotting, calling the elections a cynical ploy by King Gyanendra to legitimize his rule. Gyanendra inherited the throne in 2001, after a massacre of the royal family, and he seized total power a year ago, dissolving the government and jailing party leaders. The only candidates running are from his palace faction, and even they are dropping out in large numbers as violence against them continues. Gyanendra is now offering life insurance to anyone willing to run.
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