Leaders voice concerns over growing insecurity

By Rameshwor Yadav

KATHMANDU, Sept 21: Different political parties at a forum today questioned if the election can be held as scheduled on November 13 given the country's security problem, and whether to defer the polls to a latter date.

Vice president of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani said that under the present circumstances, elections cannot be held outside the district headquarters due to insecurity. ''Holding the election in such an unnatural situation will not be a democratic exercise."
''It is time we sought the advice of His Majesty the King to create a favorable environment for the mid-term election as His Majesty is the patron of the Constitution," he said.

He was speaking at a seminar on Nearing elections and unclear political environment in the capital today organised by Forum for Intellectual Debate (FFID).

''The people are the basis of a democratic system, but they are living in the villages where it is impossible for us to go to seek their mandate,'' he added.

Arjun Narsingh K.C., spokesperson of the Nepali Congress led by Girija Prasad Koirala, said that the political parties and their cadres had become refugees in their own country.

"The government has failed to provide the minimum security to its people. How can such a government provide security to the political leaders and hold free and fair elections?'' he questioned.
On the occasion, another speaker K.P. Sharma Oli of the CPN-UML said that before taking part in the forthcoming election, we should see that all aspects involved with the election - security, Election Commission and civil society - should be in place.

He stressed that although the date of the general election has been declared, the environment is not positive. ''The government says it will hold the election at any cost. So we cannot boycott it.''
General Secretary of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party Hridesh Tripathi said that the election had become a problem, not problem solving medium. ''Had the Constitution been amended from time to time, the nation would not have had to face this situation.''

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