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Note no. 377
06.04.2007
by Dr. S. Chandrasekharan
It is understood by all that the Peace Process and the restructuring of State cannot be completed without conducting the Constitution Assembly Polls as quickly as possible to ensure that the Maoists who fought a decade long war could be brought finally into the political mainstream.
In his negotiations with the Maoists, G.P. Koirala had to give in on two counts- one, to announce a definite date for CA Elections ( June 20, 2007) and two- to oust the King by two thirds majority in the Parliament in the event of the King getting involved in any conspiracy against the CA Polls.
It is not clear how G.P. could have agreed to hold the CA elections so early when so many problems need to be sorted out before June and the administrative machinery is not yet in a position to go through all the steps necessary within the time frame for a free and fair election.
The key word to us is free and fair elections. With the Maoists still on the rampage with the people still in terror and with the Terai unrest continuing to simmer, how could the situation be brought under control for the people to vote freely?
CECs Caution:
The Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel has asked the government not to be in a hurry to announce the date of election and conduct the CA election just for the sake of conducting it. He has pointed the difficulties being faced by him. These are-
1. Only 70 days are left and there are lots of things that need to be done before the due date.
2. Parties are still not clear about the system of elections
3. Other regulatory and mandatory actions that are to be done before the due date that include
Acts and Regulations
Code of conduct for the elections for the Parties.
The Constituencies will have to be defined-. These are in the process of reconsideration and review.
Environment conducive for casting a vote in a fair and free manner should be guaranteed.
Election Programme has to be published before end of April.
Polling booths will have to be fixed
Polling Personnel will have to be selected, trained and motivated.
Ballot Papers will have to be printed and distributed.
Election Monitoring system has to be managed.
The CEC opined that the Government should not announce the date of elections prematurely in such a way that it would need to be revised which in his view would result in Nepal losing its credibility.
For creating an atmosphere for a free and fair elections, Prime Minister G.P. Koirala should rein in the Maoists and their sister organsiations like the communist youth league who are continuing with their rampage and also initiate a dialogue with MJF (MPRF) but not the two erstwhile Maoists, Mukthi Morcha factions of Jwala Singh and Raj Krishna Goit.
By being adamant in not replacing K.P.Sitaula and not ordering a judicial commission on the deaths of over 37 MJF activists, G.P. will not only get unpopular in suppressing a peoples movement in Terai but would also result in his party, as well as UML losing their assets in Terai in the coming CA elections.
On the Maoists, there could no better comment than this one from an Analyst Akhilesh Tripathy-
Those who are selling the dream of transforming the country within a few years should first transform themselves, rejecting what is in effect bigotry and accepting and practising the culture of tolerance and co- existence.
Some points that come to our mind- are
On 28th march, some 20 Maoists surrounded the house of Mata Ram Varma, a former chairman of Bethani VDC of Banke district in the night killing him and injuring his son. Official media dare not say that they were Maoists but only mentioned that it was done by a criminal gang! And now the communication and information ministry is being held by the Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara.
Last week, a senior former cabinet minister and a person of some social standing Rabindranath Sharma tried to address a gathering of his party loyalists of RPP in Jhapa. Those who gathered were attacked and Rabindranath Sharma was himself humiliated by forcibly draping him with a string of shoes round his neck and his face blackened.
From a known business man in Kathmandu, the Maoists demanded 30 lakhs of rupees and he had to run to the Maoist leaders to reduce the amount. The amount was reduced to 3 lakhs and the businessman thought that his worries are over. He is now being harassed again for the balance.
In Nepalgunj a well-known politician who owns a few houses and land says that his properties have not been returned to him even after the Maoists have joined the cabinet.
In many rural areas, the internally displaced persons have been only been selectively allowed to enter.
The Home Minster has announced a dead line that all those holding arms should surrender them within one week or else! It is going to fall on deaf ears.
The Maoists more than any other group are keen to go ahead with the CA elections on the stipulated date. G.P. Koirala holds the trump card and should make it clear that people cannot vote in the elections under an atmosphere of fear and coercion and that elections will have to be postponed.Home | Papers | Notes | Forum | Search | Feedback | Links
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