The BBC reports that thousands of Maoists are in the Nepali capital for a rally and general strike. Vijay, Project Coordinator with the CoRIN Project (Community Radio Initiative in Nepal), says: "Our plane was cancelled for three days." Sean MacKenzie and Vijay were unable to fly out of Kathmandu to Okhaldunga to celebrate the community FM radio station's anniversary.
"So we have decided not to organise any program [hoped for a community-wide event on 27 April]," says Vijay. "We make plans but due to the transportation and political situation we have to cancel many times." 
Aafno FM-Okhaldunga tower
Aafno FM-Okhaldunga before
Happy anniversary
Aafno FM-Okhaldunga has been broadcasting now for one year on a full radio licence. This community radio station on the mule train path in the Nepali mountains is making a difference to the people there. Vijay says: “Every day we get at least 100 letters from different places.”
The station, part of the CoRIN Project, has come a long way in 2 years. In May 2008 the local staff were being trained in radio production, many of them having never used a computer. And in 2009 land became available in Okhaldunga, a tower was constructed, and by May the station passed its government inspection and became fully licensed for broadcasting. Today they are on air around 6 hours every day with news (via satellite), health programmes and even a new Gospel programme. They are busy learning new skills such as how to add in live telephone calls and do more on-location recording with handheld recorders.
Praying for Nepal
Sean says: "Please be in prayer for Nepal. As the deadline for completion of the Nepal Constitution draws near, the political rhetoric and social tensions grow. Strikes are on the increase making travel difficult. No one is sure how things will work out here, especially over the next month, as May will bring renewed Maoist efforts to a new height."
The BBC reported: “Thousands of Maoists have converged on the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, ahead of a planned May Day rally on Saturday.” The leaders promise that the rally will be peaceful, to be followed by a general strike throughout May.
The Constituent Assembly (CA), which is charged with writing Nepal's permanent constitution, is now in the process of preparing its first draft. Under the terms of the Interim Constitution, the new constitution is to be promulgated by 28 May, 2010.
See also:
VIDEO: Aafno FM in Dadeldhura