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Postponement of CA Polls in Nepal
By KTM Metro Reporter
Press Release of the six-party alliance (SPA) and the CPN-Maoist
The meeting of the top leaders of the seven political parties held at the residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar today has made the following decisions:
(1) On September 28, 2007, 87 legislators including the legislators of the CPN-Maoist appealed to the Prime Minister for calling a special session of the interim legislature to discuss the issues such as proclamation of republic and the proportional electoral system; the situation has aroused that the election for a constituent assembly would not be possible on November 22, 2007 without settling these two issues by the special session of the interim legislature; therefore, it is decided to request the Election Commission for suspending all programs on the election on November 22, 2007, and all other activities concerning the election; and we request the honorable Prime Minister for taking actions to this end.
(2) We want to repeat once again the fact that the unity among the political parties and the cooperation of the political parties are indispensable for peace, democracy and the election for a constituent assembly. We realize that our necessity and compulsion are to go ahead with creating concrete understanding between the parties that have signed a comprehensive peace agreement for taking the peace process to the positive result. We request the Government of Nepal for setting a new date without delay for holding the election for a constituent assembly based on the agreement of the seven parties that have been continuously active to this end.
(3) We regret that the postponement of the election for a constituent assembly has been a disappointment to the political parties, civil society including all Nepalese brothers and sisters that have been waiting for the election for a constituent assembly on November 22, 2007. We are committed to ensure the holding of an election for a constituent assembly without delay.
(4) We heartily request our well-wishing friendly nations, United Nations including the international community, organizations and associations that have been assisting in the peace process, the development of democracy and the election for a constituent assembly in Nepal for continuing their assistance as always.
1. Acting President of Nepali Congress - Sushil Koirala signed
2. General Secretary of CPN-UML - Madhav Kumar Nepal signed
3. Chairman of CPN-Maoist - Prachanda signed
4. Chairman of People’s Front Nepal - Ameek Sherchan signed
5. Chairman of Nepal Workers & Peasants’ Party - Narayanman Bijukchhe signed
6. G. S. of Nepal Sadbhavana Party–Anandadevi - Shyam Sunder Gupta signed
7. Chairman of United Left Front - C.P. Mainali signed
October 05, 2007 (Translated by Siddhi B. Ranjitkar)
The struggle between the republicans and the royalists for power has continued. It is clear that the deferral of the CA polls would further polarize the republicans and the royalists. The NC leaders under the cover of not proclaiming republic and rejecting a proportional electoral system have been directly or indirectly prolonging the life of the king and the dynastic rule that had suppressed the voices and rights of the Nepalese people to equitable development for 238 years, and oppressed the Nepalese people to the extent possible.
The ethnic, Madheshi, dalit, minority, women and hill Nepalis would not agree to the election for a CA that would not ensure their proportional representation. Therefore, the NC leaders have been fighting an already lost war against the ethnic, Madheshi, dalit, minority, women and hill Nepalis. In doing so, the NC leaders have been provoking the ethnic and Madheshi Nepalis to take their issues of proportional representation, federalization and autonomy to the streets causing tremendous loss of economic development opportunities and inconvenience to all Nepalis due to the traffic shutdown, market and educational institution closure.
The irony is that Acting President of Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala strongly came out against the postponement of the CA polls, CPN-UML leaders held a rally against the postponement of the CA polls, and other fringe party leaders spoke out against it too immediately after signing the press release of the six-party alliance (SPA) and the CPN-Maoist for the postponement of the CA polls. In doing so, what do they really want to show to the Nepalis? Are they indirectly supporting the royalists or simply they have demonstrated their dual character for deceiving Nepalis?
The Prime Minister sent a request letter to the Election Commission for putting off the programs on the election for a CA on November 22, 2007, and other activities concerning the election.
The Election Commission in turn has suspended all programs on the election and activities to this end, and recalled all staffs sent to the district for the election. The Election Commission said that billions of rupees have already been invested in holding the election.
The international community including India, US, and EU expressed their disappointment on deferring the election for a CA scheduled on November 22, 2007. The international community has been putting pressure on the Prime Minister to hold an election for a CA on November 22, 2007, and on rejecting the demands of the civil society, ethnic and Madheshi Nepalis and later on, of the CPN-Maoist for the proportional electoral system and for declaring Nepal a republic before the election for a CA.
Some professional organization such as the Federation of Nepalese Journalist (FNJ), the umbrella organization of professional journalists in Nepal has been for holding an election for the Constituent Assembly even without ensuring the proportional representation of hill, ethnic, Madheshi, minority and women in a constituent assembly. Either the leader of the FNJ does not understand what would be the result of the election that would not ensure the proportional representation of all Nepalis in a constituent assembly that is supposed to craft a new constitution of all Nepalis or simply wants to support the regressive forces. Certainly, a constitution crafted by a constituent assembly without the representation of some Nepalis would not be acceptable to them whose representation in a constituent assembly is denied.
