October 4, 2007
Nepal Polls Likely to be Postponed By Sudeshna Sarkar
Kathmandu
The Nov 22 election in Nepal, regarded as a key step in restoring
peace and stability in the strife-torn nation, is likely to be
deferred a third time with the multi-party democratic government
reaching an agreement Thursday night with the Maoist guerrillas to
put on hold all preparations.
Nepal's official TV station, Nepal Television, said that an informal
understanding has been reached between the government and the
Maoists to suspend election preparations.
After nearly six-hour negotiations the six ruling parties and the
rebels agreed to hold a last-minute dialogue Friday morning, after
which it would be clear if the election would be postponed to
April-June, as the Maoists had demanded earlier.
The understanding with the Maoists creates a piquant situation.
It enables the Girija Prasad Koirala government to avert a deadly
confrontation with the Maoists that was likely to arise Friday - the
day for filing the first round of nominations for the Nov 22 polls
and the Maoists had warned they would disrupt the process.
On the other hand, it remains to be seen how Nepal's
independent-minded Election Commission would react to the decision
since it warned the government this week, after reshuffling dates
for filing nominations, that it would not condone further changes.
Nepal's civil society, professional organisations and other parties
are also likely to flay the government for its failure to hold
elections in time.
However, the Koirala government would lose the support of the
international community, which has clearly said that its legitimacy
depends on holding the polls on time.
The impasse was created after the Maoists quit the government last
month and began pressing for the immediate abolition of monarchy and
adoption of a fully proportional representation system.
Koirala refused to heed either demand, creating a deadlock that has
been casting dark clouds over the election for the past six days.
While the parties and the guerrillas are engaged in dialogue,
eastern Nepal and parts of the Terai plains in the south remain
paralysed.
An alliance of six ethnic communities has called for an indefinite
general strike since Wednesday in a bid to block the constituent
assembly election.
The Sanghiya Ganatantrik Rastriya Morcha, that includes Maoist
dissenters and a faction of a powerful Terai organisation, has
called the protest to press its demand for the abolition of monarchy
before the election, the formation of autonomous states for
different communities and a fully proportional electoral system.
Besides, a three-day general strike has been called in the Terai
plains from Thursday by a dissident former minister and his
followers.
Rajendra Mahato, who last week resigned as minister for commerce,
industry and supplies, quit the cabinet in a huff after a feud broke
out in his Nepal Sadbhavana Party and the Election Commission
recognised the dissidents as the bona fide party.
Mahato has moved court over the verdict and vowed to disrupt the
election, saying the government was biased against people from the
plains and would not hold free and fair elections.
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