Revolution and Peace

On Saturday, 1 May 2010, the Unified Community Party of Nepal (Maoist) staged a massive May Day rally in Nepal's capital city, Kathmandu. Their demand: the Prime Minister's resignation and the formation of a new national consensus government under their leadership. The protestors converged at the Khula Manch (Open-Air Theatre) in the centre of the city. There, after a series of aggressive warnings and ridicule hurled at the government by various party leaders, party chairman Prachanda took to the stage in the late afternoon. He warned the Prime Minister and his government to step down or face an indefinite shutdown of the country starting Sunday, 2 May. He appealed to the security forces for restraint and to the locals of Kathmandu for support on the streets.

After 6 days, on 7 May, the Maoists announced they would call off the strike but continue their protests targeting the government, which they would escalate if there was no response. That morning, thousands of Kathmandu residents had taken part in a Peace Rally asking the Maoists to withdraw their strike. Here we present some images of the May Day rally, the week-long strike and the peace rally on 7 May.