Kathmandu, 18 Jan: US Ambassador Nancy J. Powell again called for assembly elections in Pokhara Friday as a suspected terai group killed at least seven persons and injured 27 others after torching a bus in Bara.Violence and killings have become daily occurrences after government announced the country’s first assembly elections last Friday."The United States strongly supports the upcoming polls and is committed to doing its part to help them become a reality.
"The election is a key step in the peace process, but, in important ways, the real work will begin after the election is over."Many of the commitments made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the other peace accords have yet to be implemented," she told a meeting in the resort town, according to the US embassy. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala ordered elections one day after she told him bluntly American assistance wouldn’t be resumed until elections.Major groups in the terai have opposed elections saying there was no environment.To recall, Washington opposed local elections called by the King before 1 February 2005; the present ruling parties boycotted the polls.Maoist Chairman Prachanda even revealed the prime minister urged his party to go on a killing spree to disrupt the vote.
Major foreign governments are embarrassed with government’s inability to conduct promise elections twice; the vote is unlikely for the third time even with foreign support for Koirala and his government. Main foreign capitals are embarrassed with the two postponements because they pushed the April 2006 street protests which has proved a national disaster.Koirala has lost political grip and the forces he let loose for a system change are instead demanding virtual cessation of a nation united by the Shah kings and the present Nepal Army. Election, without creating an environment, will let loose bloodshed which has already started.
Powell is not certain if campaigns have begun for a vote have started in Nepal; she last reminded her audience in her country a campaign started nearly two years ago.
"As political parties begin their campaigns for elections, I hope they are beginning, let me suggest that discussions also focus on Nepal’s economic challenges and the options for policy responses by a newly elected government," she reportedly told her Pokhara audience. Powell, in retrospect, is pushing Iraq-style elections in Nepal.
"The election is a key step in the peace process, but, in important ways, the real work will begin after the election is over."Many of the commitments made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the other peace accords have yet to be implemented," she told a meeting in the resort town, according to the US embassy. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala ordered elections one day after she told him bluntly American assistance wouldn’t be resumed until elections.Major groups in the terai have opposed elections saying there was no environment.To recall, Washington opposed local elections called by the King before 1 February 2005; the present ruling parties boycotted the polls.Maoist Chairman Prachanda even revealed the prime minister urged his party to go on a killing spree to disrupt the vote.
Major foreign governments are embarrassed with government’s inability to conduct promise elections twice; the vote is unlikely for the third time even with foreign support for Koirala and his government. Main foreign capitals are embarrassed with the two postponements because they pushed the April 2006 street protests which has proved a national disaster.Koirala has lost political grip and the forces he let loose for a system change are instead demanding virtual cessation of a nation united by the Shah kings and the present Nepal Army. Election, without creating an environment, will let loose bloodshed which has already started.
Powell is not certain if campaigns have begun for a vote have started in Nepal; she last reminded her audience in her country a campaign started nearly two years ago.
"As political parties begin their campaigns for elections, I hope they are beginning, let me suggest that discussions also focus on Nepal’s economic challenges and the options for policy responses by a newly elected government," she reportedly told her Pokhara audience. Powell, in retrospect, is pushing Iraq-style elections in Nepal.
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