Maoists in, king out as Nepal faces historic vote

By Simon Denyer

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal stages a historic election on Thursday meant to rope a once-feared Maoist guerrilla army into democratic politics and bring an end to a once-loved 240-year-old Hindu monarchy.

High in the Himalayas, impoverished, ill-governed Nepal is hoping its first elections in nine years will help cement peace after a decade-long civil war, and allow it finally to join its booming big brother, India, in a new era of prosperity.

Two years after mass street protests brought an end to an ill-fated period of royal rule, the vote will also formally restore democracy to Nepal.

"It is not going to solve everything overnight, but it is closure for one chapter in our history and the beginning of a new one," said Kunda Dixit, editor of the Nepali Times.

Yet the challenges ahead are immense, not least because violence and intimidation have seriously marred the campaign and could undermine the voting day itself.

The main, but far from the only, culprits are the Maoists, seemingly unable to leave behind the bullying tactics that brought them this far. Their youth wing is accused of beating up rival party workers and systematically threatening voters.

A peace accord was signed only two years ago, and is effectively in "cold storage", with few of its provisions implemented, said magazine editor Yubaraj Ghimire.

The Maoists have locked away their arms but kept the keys, ex-guerrillas have not been integrated into the army or civilian life, and the abuses of the war have gone unpunished.