Asian Network for Free Elections
111 Soi Sithichon, Suthisarnwinichai Road, Samsen Nok, Huaykwang, Bangkok 10320,
Thailand Tel: (662) 2773627 Fax: (662) 2762183 Email: anfrel@anfrel.org
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Statement

Re-Establish Rule of Law, Democracy and Human Rights in Nepal
15th February 2006 at Foreign Correspondent Club of Thailand

The municipal elections were held in Nepal on 8 th February amidst political turmoil and in the absence of any kind of understanding between the King, Maoists and mainstream political bodies. The Maoists had warned the candidates and their officials from participating in the elections while the mainstream political parties boycotted them. Violence by State and non-state actors escalated in the run up to the elections. There were no candidates for more than half the election seats while in many others there was only one candidate ensuring their unopposed election. All kinds of political activity and debates have been frozen by the government by arresting the demonstrators and issuing Ordinances providing for strict control of the media. The voter turnout on February 8th was less than 20 percent. Even in such case the foreign ministry of Nepal has called the elections as a ‘popular victory’ against terror which would help to restore democracy.

Asian Network for Free Elections, Amnesty International Thailand and the Asian Institute for Human Rights strongly state that elections held in an environment which suppresses all forms of political debate and activity and where there is no security to express one’s political will cannot be called free and fair. Further such elections which are not being recognized by the other major actors in the conflict political parties and Maoists will not help to restore democracy.

Thus we call upon King to create an enabling environment for holding free elections and restoration of democracy by
- Respecting and restoring the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association
- Releasing all political detainees and respecting the judicial orders releasing the detainees
- Revising or repealing draconian laws such as the Public Security Act and the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Ordinance, which are against the international human rights standards ratified by the government of Nepal
- Resuming talks with the Maoists and political parties as a step towards establishing sustainable peace
- Restore the independence of National Human Rights Commission, the Election Commission and the credible Judiciary

We call upon the international community to put pressure on the Maoists and the government to reach a cease fire agreement and respect the human rights of the people. We hope that such measures will create an environment of security, help in building the confidence of the people, and establish grounds for sustainable peace talks and restoration of democracy.

Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL)
Asian Institute for Human Rights (AIHR)
Amnesty International (AI Thailand)