[The Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has called for workers and villagers to converge on Kathmandu for a “final conflict” to win a new constitution. The Maoists are calling for a sustained mobilisation, with the hope that an overwhelming showing can push the government out with a minimum of bloodshed and stay the hand of the Nepal army. For more background, see "Nepal: Bracing for `high noon' after May 1". The UCPN (M) on April 27 called for an indefinite general strike starting May 2, should the current prime minister not step aside in the face of the May 1 mass mobilisation.]

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Story and photos by Jed Brandt, Kathmandu

April 29, 2010 -- Business as usual is over in Kathmandu. With two days to go until May 1, overflowing buses are pulling in by the hour to the outskirts of town. The city is crowded. Bus caravans are unloading directly into street marches wild with chanting, marshalled by uniformed cadre from the Young Communist League. Despite a week of fear-mongering by Nepal’s mainstream press, the crowds are militant, but unarmed. And they are giddy despite harassment from the armed police on the roads leading into the city. Several Maoists [members of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) -- UPCN (M)] have been arrested on petty weapons charges, but these are the exceptions to the rule.

The Maoist rallies have already started. The central intersections of every district I passed were filled with young people, always the young!

There is more density towards the centre of the city, as mini-rallies are moving from the outskirts towards the centre, but they aren't all staying by government buildings. It seems as the contingents arrive, they are dipping into the centre and then marching back out across the city. The convergence of all these hundreds of thousands of people is set for May 1. The contingents are on their own for now.

Every "Armed Police" cop in the city must be on alert. They are rallying too, but look noticeably unhappy. Not aggressive so much as slouching in the back of their trucks, looking around nervously.

Among the residents of Kathmandu, the people going about their business while the city fills up, facial expressions are as good a guide to allegiance as anything people say. Those who believe that people should make governments are excited, mobilised and on the march. Those who fear the country people, the young and the workers are dour, hurrying to reach their personal destination.

Youth of a nation

I met Mukti, a Maoist party district leader from Kathmandu while he was overseeing rows of single-file columns, mostly students, filing out to their housing in the late afternoon. Rain clouds were looming. With a rare full beard and long hair, his tone was scholarly with a hint of rocker, and a Pearl Jam button his bag.

He was eager to talk:

We are staying at wedding halls. Thirty thousand have come today from Chitwan. Sixty tourist buses drive back and forth every day. Too many people are waiting for transportation, but the drivers have been very helpful with their buses. They are working very hard to help.

"The youth are going to make this day", he said pointing to the three single-file lines of young men stretching parallel from the bus station a kilometre away. None were children, but all were too young for marriage -- mostly older teenagers.