Adverse Signals Will Be Sent If CA Polls Put Off: Gill
Neena Gill, head of the 5-member working group of European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with South Asia, has said that delaying elections will send adverse signals “internally and externally” that the country is not able to hold the polls.
Addressing a press meet on Friday (March 23), Gill said that CA polls can still be held by mid-June if all parties demonstrate their will to do so. “There is a huge amount of goodwill and support (from international community to Nepal). It is possible and feasible to hold polls in next two and a half months. But it really boils down to the role of key players here,” she said. Gill said European Parliament and EU are ready to send substantial Election Observation Mission.
Gill said the Maoists must walk the talk and show clear commitments to democratic norms so that the interim government can be formed soon and date for elections fixed. “Without interim government, there will be no solid basis to go ahead with election,” she said.
“Our impression is that there is not sufficient amount of self-discipline among followers of some parties. We are disappointed to note that extortion, abductions and violence continues,” she said. Referring to recent agitation by business community, she said, “You cannot have a situation where business and industries are held to ransom for no particular reason.”
Gill whose delegation recently toured Bhutan, said the Bhutanese authorities told them they were ready to reopen talks with Nepal. “The time is particularly right given the American offer of resettlement. We cannot continue with the situation indefinitely,” she said, adding that even after resettlement in third countries, the refugees will continue to retain the right to return to Bhutan. She, however, added that it was not realistic to imagine that all 100,000 refugees will be able to return to Bhutan.
During their stay in Nepal, the delegation met with Prime Minister GP Koirala, deputy Prime Minister KP Oli, Law Minister Narendra Nemwang, Speaker Subas Nemwang, Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Bhoj Raj Pokharel, UNMIN chief Ian Martin, chief of OHCHR-Nepal Lena Sundh and US ambassador James Moriarty, among others.
Gaur Incident Has Shocked Int’l Community: Martin
Ian Martin, chief of UNMIN, has said that the killings in Gaur have shocked the international community as they have shocked Nepal. “This confrontation could and should have been avoided. I hope the perpetrators will be identified and brought to justice. I also hope that these terrible events will cause leaders of all groups to cease putting the lives of their followers at risk, and that all Nepalese, especially in the Terai, will pause and commit themselves to pursuing their goals by exclusively peaceful means. Even legitimate claims are discredited by the use of violence, and provocative acts risk unleashing greater conflict,” he said at a press meet on Thursday (March 24).
Meanwhile, Martin said at the press meet that the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly is due to adopt the resolution giving UNMIN its budget. “This will be an amount of $88,822,000, as recommended by the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). This is only a little less than the $91,523,300 requested by the Secretary-General. The staffing of UNMIN will eventually grow to a little under 700 international personnel in all categories, including 186 arms monitors and 258 UN Volunteers, and a little under 400 national staff.”
He said that the presence of UNMIN has one objective: to support Nepal in achieving the context for a credible Constituent Assembly election. “Arms management is one aspect of creating that climate, and I want to clarify some aspects of the debate since we made public the results of the first stage of registration. First, I regret that agreement has not yet been reached between the Government and the CPN(Maoist) regarding arrangements for the personal security of Maoist leaders. UNMIN has registered 96 weapons retained by the Maoists outside the cantonments pending this agreement.”
As regards the second stage of registration, Martin said, he has made clear to the Maoist leadership that UNMIN believes that there are substantial numbers of minors in the cantonments as well as persons who were recruited after 25 May 2006, and has asked for their cooperation regarding their discharge, as the agreement requires.
On the issue of CA elections, he said, “A credible election requires not only the management of arms and armies, and the right laws and technical preparations: it requires a climate in which all political parties can campaign freely in all places, and all voters can vote free of any intimidation or fear of reprisal.”
He also expressed dismay at abductions and beatings of businessmen and others, in Kathmandu and elsewhere. “I have expressed concern to the Maoist leadership that the Young Communist League must be a peaceful political organization and must not engage in purported law enforcement.”
