Plea For CA polls

Chief of the United Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Ian Martin pointed out the fact that the election to the constituent assembly should be held to establish political stability in the country. Speaking at an interaction with media persons held at Kathmandu ,the other day, the chief of the UN Mission in Nepal maintained that the conducive environment for polls will have to be created to conduct polls in a free and fair manner. Referring to the activities of the Young Communist League (YCL) , the head of the UN mission in Nepal asserted that the League's actions should not exceed the limits prescribed by law. The League should cooperate with the law enforcing agencies as a group of law abiding citizens. This alone would contribute in keeping law and order in the country.

Informing the media about the second phase verification of the PLA combatants lodged in different cantonments , he made it clear that the verification would be carried out to undertake examination and scrutiny strictly, and those who did not meet the criteria should be sent out of the camps. As the international community is all for stable and consistent peace building efforts, the support extended from all quarters including the UN to the cause of democracy and peace in Nepal is very instrumental. This has been one of the causative factors , among others, to accrue positive results for democratization and peace building in the country.

What should not go unmentioned is the establishment of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human rights in Nepal for the last two years. This has been at the frontline to monitor the abuses of civil and political rights in the country . Moreover, the initiative for commencing the second phase arms and combatants verification has been relevant and important. This goes in line with the concurrent efforts and preparation carried out for the election to the constituent assembly. As the present political dispensation has been working to arrive at settlement of the outstanding issues through dialogue, the commitment of the UN, as highlighted by Ian Martin, to extend cooperation to accelerate momentum for peace building is meaningful.

Source: The Rising Nepal, June 14, 2007