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VOL. 27, NO. 28, March 21, 2008 (Chaitra 08 2064 B.S.) |
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Polls In Focus
The UNMIN chief has said that int'l community will have no sympathy on those still clinging to violence
By A CORRESPONDENT
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Election Commission: All eyes on it |
At a time when a number of armed outfits in Terai have continued to threaten that they will use violence to disrupt April elections in the region, a top UN official has said that the international community will no longer have any sympathy to those groups who will try to pursue their grievances by using violence or resort to disrupt the polls.
"Efforts to reach out to those with grievances should continue, but the international community will have no sympathy with any group, which carries out acts of violence in pursuit of its grievances or in attempts to disrupt the electoral process," said Ian Martin, the chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), at a press meet on March 12.
Martin has said that the focus now should be on ensuring that the election takes place in an environment that enables all parties to campaign and organize freely anywhere in the country, and allows the people to cast their votes in accordance with their free will and conscience, without intimidation or infringement of their rights.
Martin said that UNMIN will strengthen its arms monitoring to ensure full respect of peace agreement and arms monitoring agreement during the election so that the two armies will be restricted in their designated locations and their weapons monitored.
"In the area of arms monitoring, having completed the registration and verification of the cantoned personnel of the Maoist army, UNMIN is now in discussion with the Nepal Army and the Maoist army, including through the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee, on ensuring full respect during the election period for the commitments of both sides under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the arms monitoring agreement, beginning with the restriction of the two armies to their designated locations and the monitoring of weapons. We have been in discussion with the leadership of the Maoist army on strengthening monitoring in the cantonment areas. We have also been in discussion with the Nepal Army on ensuring compliance with the procedures for carrying out permitted activities under the agreements. The strict adherence to such commitments is important for preserving the integrity of the monitoring regime and maintaining the political confidence it promotes. At the same time we are seeking the cooperation of the Maoist army and the Government in arrangements for the earliest possible orderly discharge of those required to leave the cantonments after verification, especially minors," said Martin.
He also expressed worries about the continued violation of election code of conduct. "If left unchecked, these are bound to hamper the election and the freedom of voters," he said.
"It is now imperative for all democratic forces to work together to make the election a successful democratic exercise. This requires respect for the principles of fair play and equal political space for all, and the wisdom to look beyond short-term party interests and to work for the common good. This election will be scrutinized more closely than ever before in Nepal by national and international observers," he said.
The UNMIN has dispatched over 100 election advisors from central to local level. "As we speak our electoral advisers are being deployed to the regions and districts around the country. The last batch of the advisers will be in their respective districts within this week," he said.
"The Election Commission has repeatedly emphasized that election security is a vital part of the process, and this has also been emphasized by the United Nations Electoral Expert Monitoring Team, which is currently carrying out its fourth visit. The political cooperation which is essential to security must include the willingness of political actors to refrain from calling for the premature release of those who have been properly arrested."
