Polls Without Maoists Serve No Purpose-Legal Experts

Kathmandu, Oct 16-Legal experts and members of the civil society here said today that the proposed parliamentary election would serve no purpose towards establishing peace and stability unless the state addresses the issues raised by the Maoists who are the main cause of political instability and constitutional crisis in the country for nearly a decade.

They also said the deadline set for the parliamentary election has been announced against the “constitutional spirit” which expects “conducive atmosphere” for holding any election without fear and threat.

In his Dashain message to the countrymen on October 12, the King announced that he had ordered the Election Commission to conduct parliamentary election within the year of 2063 BS (mid-April 2007).
“Setting deadline for the parliamentary polls that is going to be held one-and-half-year later will have no meaning as similar announcements made during the tenures of Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Surya Bahadur Thapa and Sher Bahadur Deuba did not materialise,” said former law minister Nilambar Acharya at the Reporters' Club.

The King should first give up the chairmanship of the council of ministers if he really wants to hold the general election in a free and fair manner, he said, adding that the deadline for the parliamentary election was set to convalesce from international isolation.

Former justice of the Supreme Court Krishna Jung Rayamajhi said that nothing has been mentioned about the Maoists, who are the main cause of political instability and constitutional crisis, while setting the deadline for general polls. “We have been facing constitutional crisis due to the Maoist insurgency. But we want to conduct elections without duly addressing the core issue,” Rayamajhi said.

Shambhu Thapa, president of the Nepal Bar Association, said that it would be impossible to conduct any election without creating conducive environment for the same. “It is not the question of holding election, the question is to resolve the conflict that has already claimed the lives of more than 15,000 people,” he said.
He said the government should have utilised the Maoists' unilateral ceasefire as an opportunity to find lasting solution to the crisis rather than opting for elections. According to him, parliamentary election could be held only after holding a political conference of all the parties in conflict.

President of Civil Society for Peace and Development Dr Sundar Mani Dixt said that there would not be any credibility of the general election to be held amidst the boycott of the major parties and the Maoist threat of reprisal. He said that the deadline for general election without resolving the Maoist problem was just like putting the cart before the horse. “It will also be deemed as referendum against the King if the percentage of votes cast remained too low,” he said.

Economist Himalaya Shumsher Rana raised the apprehension of the political parties, who are suspicious that the general election would be held amidst massive rigging given the appointments of zonal and regional administrators. He, however, said that election was the only alternative to bring the constitutional process back on track.