Forgot your password?
Madheshi Demand and CA Election
BY KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, the last day of the submission of the sealed-list of candidates for the proportional representation system, all three Madheshi political parties did not submit the sealed-list of their candidates for the proportional system of election to be held on April 10, 2008, for a constituent assembly (CA) clearly indicating that they are not going to take part in the election. They have said that they are not against the election but against the perpetuation of the exclusive administration set up by the outgoing Shah dynastic rule. They have put forward six-point demand that includes the autonomy to the Madhesh. They have launched an indefinite Terai shutdown on February 13, 2008. The shutdown continues causing loss to the business, and to the economy of the country, and hardship to the regular lives of the people.
Out of 74 political parties registered at the Election Commission for the purpose of the election for a CA, only 38 parties have submitted the sealed-list of the candidates for the proportional representation in the to-be-elected CA. The CA would comprised of 601 members, of which 240 would be directly elected by voters from the 240 constituencies, 335 members would be elected following the proportion of the votes the political parties receive, and the Prime Minister would appoint the remaining 26 members.
Minister for Communication and Information and Spokesman for the government, Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that the Cabinet meeting held in the morning of February 21, 2008 decided to request the Election Commission for extending the deadline for submitting the sealed list of candidates for the proportional representation to February 24, 2008 for making sufficient time for the rebellious Madheshi Parties to submit their lists of candidates for the proportional representation. The government anticipates that the protesting Madheshi leaders and the representatives of the government might come to some sorts of understanding and stop the Terai shutdown and work for the upcoming election by that time.
Some Nepali Congress leaders and the Madheshi leaders held a meeting under the auspices of the Indian Ambassador at the Indian Embassy at Lainchaur, Kathmandu on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. However, they couldn’t reach any understanding. They would hold a meeting on February 21, 2008.
The international donor community is concerned with the ongoing protest in Terai, and has been putting pressure on the government to hold talks with the Madheshi leaders and reach an understanding with them for holding peaceful, free and fair election for a CA. The Government of Nepal has called the Nepal Donor Consultation Meeting (NDCM) on Thursday, February 21, 2008 to discuss peace and development challenges in Nepal, and seek support for building confidence in progress. Asian Development Bank (ADB), Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Germany, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, UN, United Kingdom, World Bank, United States of America and Republic of Korea are participating in the conference.
