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UNMIN
welcomes announcement of Constituent Assembly election date
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Kathmandu
25 June 2007 (UNMIN)
UNMIN
welcomes the announcement of a date for the Constituent Assembly election
in Nepal, on 22 November 2007. This is a critical step in the peace process,
and indicates the strong commitment of the political parties to work together
to fulfill the historic promise to the people of Nepal to form a democratically
elected Constituent Assembly.
UNMIN's
presence in Nepal and all aspects of its work are for the purpose of assisting
in creating a free and fair atmosphere for this election, and UNMIN is
strongly committed to the achievement of this objective. Now that a date
has been set for the election, it is essential that all parties commit
themselves to addressing the considerable challenges that remain in order
to create a free and fair atmosphere for the ballot. A date is necessary,
but not in itself sufficient. The parties must now put forward a realistic
plan and timetable to achieve rapid progress on simultaneous fronts, both
technical and logistical as well as on political and security issues.
Following
the passage of legislation establishing the electoral system, and now the
extension of 21 days for the Electoral Constituencies Delimitation Commission
to review its report, it is vital that the Interim Government continue
to engage in real dialogue with historically marginalised groups - Madhesis,
Janajatis, Dalits and women and others. This dialogue is essential to ensure
that there is a broad consensus among all elements of the electorate on
the electoral system.
Public
security continues to be a fundamental challenge. This requires not just
a plan for security at the time of the election itself, but the creation
of conditions in all districts and villages which allow all parties to
conduct their activities from now on without facing intimidation and violence.
UNMIN
has consistently stressed the importance of a fully independent national
monitoring body to support peace process implementation. A key element
of the request of the Government of Nepal and the Maoists to the UN was
to assist in monitoring the ceasefire arrangements. UNMIN continues to
be willing to provide assistance to such a body, established on a genuinely
independent basis.
With
the setting of an election date, the Interim Government, political parties
and the people of Nepal now enter a new phase of preparations. It is essential
that all parties commit themselves to dialogue as the means to work through
differences without violence, that the Interim Government take necessary
action to guarantee public security through professional law enforcement,
and that all parties fulfill their commitments in order to promote an atmosphere
of political tolerance in which a conducive climate for the election can
be created. A concrete plan of action with benchmarks and a realistic timetable
which addresses all these issues is essential to the success of preparations.
UNMIN will continue to support this historic process.
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Location:
Chitwan, Nepal
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Source:
UNMIN 2007, United Nations News Service
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