UML raps EU-EOM for its 'controversial' report on Nepal’s elections

Published On: March 26, 2018 03:23 PM NPT By: Republica  | @RepublicaNepal


KATHMANDU, March 26: CPN-UML has taken serious exception to the report submitted by EU-EOM on observations of the elections of the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies of Nepal.

Issuing a statement on Monday, UML concluded that EU-EOM violated Article 3 and 4 of the Montevideo Convention by recommending the Government of Nepal to amend, inter alia, the Constitution of Nepal to the effect of removing the proportional inclusion guarantee provided to the group called Khasa-Arya.

“Under Article 3 and 4 of the Montevideo Convention, Nepal is fully capable of determining or choosing its political, administrative, economic and legal and constitutional system independently. Under Article 8 of the Convention, any interference or attempt to interfere by any other state in such matters is against the international laws,” reads the statement issued today.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress also discussed this issue at the Central Working Committee meeting underway at the Central Party headquarters in Sanepa today.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, Bishwo Prakash Sharma, spokesperson of the NC, said the party would come up with an official view on it. 

On March 23, in a clear indication of souring relations between the government and the European Union (EU) mission in Nepal, government officials including those from the Election Commission (EC) had boycotted a stakeholders' consultation meeting organized by the EU Poll Observation Mission in Kathmandu.

While criticizing the statements made by top leaders of major political parties, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) had argued that the report of the EU Election Observation Mission correctly reflects the reality of Nepal.

Issuing a press statement on Thursday, NEFIN said the government had demonstrated immaturity by issuing a statement, ignoring the positive aspects of the report. While terming the provision of reservation for Khas/Aarya in state structures ‘unscientific’, the body also asked the government to correct its statement.

A-five-month-long mission, that spent around Rs 3.5 million Euro during the election observation in Nepal, had said that the Election Commission failed to provide sufficient information on voter turnout on polling centers and invalid votes.

On March 22, EU EOM unveiled its report on the federal and provincial elections along with 29 recommendations in which the International Community recommended the Nepal Government to remove the proportional inclusion guarantee provided to the group called Khasa-Arya.

Similarly, the report also criticized the EC of Nepal for lacking transparency over voter-turnout on the polling centres and inadequacy on the voter education.

 


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