The first Nepali elections for 9 years (?) are less than a week away (10th April). There have been rallies and demonstrations going on since I arrived but it's all heating up. For a long time the only party I was aware of were the maoists. They are very popular here and have very big marches. Lase week I saw a Maoist motorbke rally. However, I have now seen about four other parties. I don't know who they are but they are depicted by aimple symbols; an umbrella, a jug, a teacup, a cow. They drive around in taxis with big flags and megaphones but only the maoists seem to have marches.

The election seems to be quite complicated. It is based on the British system in that people are elected in areas to sit on some kind of parliament (which will write a constituation and, theoretically, commence to rule by it) and the biggest party will from the government (I believe). However, there is also a proportional representation part to it. There seem to be two lists of candidates, one first past the post and one proportional representation. In the PR one the parties will select their MPs from their candidates based on the percentage of votes they get. There are also confusing quotas for the percentage of women and different ethnic groups that must be represented in the 'parliament'. I'm not sure how this will work if they are meant to be free election. There is also talk of certain parties being promised a certain amount of seats before the elections take place.

There are plenty of people around who are meant to be ensuring that these elections are free and fair. The UN HQ for the area is opposite us and we can watch it from our balcony. When I first arrived it was almost dead but a few weeks ago they appeared in their big UN jeeps and now light glow from most of the windows (even during load-shedding as they have a generator). We've seen them driving round in their 4x4s. I'm not really sure what they do (or even if they do anything at all!). About 10 days ago the EU arrived in force. They too drive round in big cars with 'European Union Election Observation Mission, Nepal' on the side. I don't know what the EU has to do with Nepali elections!

Sadly, for a country that has not had elections for nearly a decade, the Nepali people are not very hopeful. Most I have talked to are resigned and believe that these elections will no change anything. They think that the parties are all the same in the end and they are all corrupt. A few seem to think that the Maoists could make a difference but  others say they don't stand a chance of winning (hard to believe in Pokhara). It's hard to know what to think. I've heard terrible stories of Maoist violence (killing people and ruining livelihoods if they refuse to strike when ordered or to pay the Maoists). It would be nice to think that these election could mark a truning point in Nepali history but it seems that most people here think that it will make little difference. We'll just have to wait and see.