Nepalis cast their democratic CA Poll vote, results to be in soon
Surya B. Prasai
April 11, 2008
With Nepal's Election Commission predicting between 55-60% percent voter turnout and polling postponed in 34 booths nationwide, Nepal's CA Poll has been termed a huge success by Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Bhoj Raj Pokharel.
India has already welcomed the fruitful Nepali electoral exercise, which it termed a historic step that will guarantee long term peace, prosperity and happiness for Nepal through able representation of the Nepali people's democratic aspirations. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India in New Delhi termed the election as a "happy outcome" which is a "product of the determination of the people of Nepal, with significant contributions by the political parties and the Election Commission of Nepal."
Everyone is heaving a sight of relief in Kathmandu that a major chapter is now over in Nepal's democratic road map. The statement further states the Constituent Assembly provides a platform for the people of Nepal to determine the manner of their governance and their future. There is building optimism among Nepalīs political leaders. Ex-U.S President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter actively engaged themselves in boosting the festive Nepali spirit surrounding the CA Poll. Nearly 17. 6 million Nepali voters, mostly of Hindu-Buddhist origin, were seen joyfully lining up, in many cities, town and villages to exercize their voting rights. Some lines stretched nearly one and a half kilometers within Kathmandu precincts. Yesterday, Nepalīs King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had given separate but identical statements calling on their fellow countrymen to cast an impartial and fair vote that would help preserve Nepalīs sovereignty, independence and democratic credentials through the ballot box. The Nepal Army was known to be in a high state of alert to thwart any crises surrounding the Nepali democratic poll.
It is learnt from Biratnagar media sources that Prime Minister Koirala appeared very jubilant in casting his vote under the proportional system in Morang district. He is one of the sure winners of this CA Poll, having stood up for Nepali democracy his entire lifetime. The PM arrived at the polling booth at Adarsha Higher Secondary School in Biratnagar five minutes after the voting opened at 7:00 am and left the booth at around 7:15 am after casting his vote. He greeted other voters and encouraged them as well to cast their votes impartially. This time for some unforeseen reason, Prime Minister Koirala did not actively campaign for his NC party colleagues like he used to do on previous occasions. He is a strong BPist by inner conviction and has championed national reconciliation on Gandhian lines.
Likewise, Maoist chairman Prachanda cast his ballot in Chitwan district followed by a large retinue of Maoist voters. His dubbed his vote īceremonialī since he is sure to win the contest unchallenged. When Prachanda arrived at the polling center at Laxman Higher Secondary School, surrounded heavily by security guards, included two dozen Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, many voters greeted him and he in turn asked them to be impartial in expressing the mandate through the ballot. Many international and local TV crews and news reporters hounded the Maoist Supremo who appeared to relish the media focus and responded with a beaming smile. One of his close deputies, Ram Bahadur Thapa īBadalī is also in the electoral fray from Chitwan-2 and another likely winner. Similarly, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, tipped as a likely leftist Prime Minister if his party wins a majority of seats over the NC, exercised his adult franchise by casting his vote along with his 93-year-old father and son at a polling center set up at SOS Youth Village in Koteshwor village, four kilometers east of Kathmandu. When he arrived in the early morning, he was heavily applauded by his supporters and fans.
However the Rastriya Prajantara Party leader and a staunch advocate of British parliamentary style democracy in Nepal, Pashupati Shamshere Rana was barred by Young Communist League cadres from casting his ballot at Sindhupalchowk district. The Election Commission is seriously looking into the incident. Similarly, there were reported booth capturing violations by the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-M, the three largest parties under the current seven party coalition. The incidents took place in the mid hills and Terai region, but the Election Commission is still verifying the unconfirmed reports before priming for action.
No voter coercion is reported on poll day from any district so far, although an independent candidate was shot in the Terai yesterday evening. There were certain districts in Western Nepal where Maoists were known to have pursued an aggressive drive to forcefully seek the peopleīs mandate in the past few weeks. The active presence of Sher Bahadur Deuba, ex-three time Premier representing NC, who is from that region, might have prompted the Maoist action.
Ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter who has visited Nepal three times in the past two years, and is widely seen as a champion of Nepalīs democracy and human rights, has expressed much happiness in seeing the elections take place smoothly. He has even termed it revolutionary. President Carter took up poll observation duties in historic and beautiful Patan, where he was assigned constituency no. 3 overlooked by picturesque Hindu and Buddhist stupas. Mr. Carter termed Nepalīs CA Poll a ground-breaking event that was "closely watched by the whole world". The ex-U.S President had also brought along with him election observation monitors from nearly two dozen countries comprising 60 experts. All were engaged in active monitoring and observation on behalf of the Carter Center, which has conducted democratic elections in nearly 67 countries worldwide in the past three decades. According to Patan based media sources, in arriving at his designated Poll Center, Mr. Carter expressed amazement in seeing a long queue of voters, all wearing colorful Nepali costumes, eagerly awaiting their turn to cast their ballots. Similarly, various heads of diplomatic missions In Kathmandu also took part in actively monitoring the Nepal CA Polls. Their wholehearted participation speaks amply on the global support to Nepalīs evolving democratic culture culminating with the CA Poll.
According to Kathmandu reprots, some of the young voters had even lined up at 4.00 a.m. to be the first to vote. Young morotocyclists are already readying for motorcycle rallies for their individual candidates victory, once the early Kathmandu winners are declared. The polling centers opened at 7.00 a.m and closed at 5.30 p.m. in most locations. Some of the electronic voting machines in Kathmandu had initially malfunctioned but were quickly brought back to order, without disturbing inputted results. Many Nepali youth clad in baggy jeans and loose shirts were seen backslapping each other and discussing the merits of voting for a particular party, some cracking jokes about their leaders, while others smoking cigarettes and drinking endless cups of heavily boiled Nepali spiced milk tea to keep their spirits up.
The CA election will elect 601 members to Nepalīs new Constituent Assembly which will decide on two major issues: one, develop the framework of a new Constitution of Nepal, based on the past best practices, and two, delineate whether Nepal will stick to the 240 year old monarchy or else adopt a federal republic structure like Germany or Switzerland. The CA Poll is also viewed as formally ending the so-called post-transitional conflict period for Nepal, and helping Nepali democracy get full credence,. All results are expected to be fully available within three weeks, except for re-polled center. The first winners names will likely be announced within 24 hours, according to the CEC Dr. Bhoj Raj Pokhrel.
The elections are also the formal democratic entry for Nepalīs Maoist rebels who fought a bloody civil conflict hat resulted in the death of 13,600 Nepalis. The conflict was largely propelled by Nepalīs building past poverty scenario due to non-inclusive development whereby nearly 40% of the population still live below the UN defined US$2 a day poverty line. The Maoists have now expressed their eagerness to be full time participants in Nepalīs evolving multiparty democratic system in Nepal by actively voting. They are hooting for a Republican set up with other leftist parties. The Maoists previous entry into the Interim Parliament was considered more of a temporary walkover, no one being able to predict whether they would return to the jungles or continue on with their democratic participation. Now, the Maoist Supremo, Prachanda, has even stated that his party is willing to accept the results. The United Nations Mission in Nepal, headed by Ian Martin, had also played a significant role in the CA Poll and unfolding peace process, often squaring one to one with Nepalīs political parties in bringing about the democratic mood transformation.
A total of 54 political parties participated in the elections, which was contested heavily by the top three. According to Nepalīs Election Commission, 20.4 million ballot papers were readied for 240 different kinds (for each constituency) for First Past the Post and 20.8 million ballot papers of single kind for Proportional Representation. Of the 17.6 million voters, 8.8 million were male and 8.73 million female,
For many Western diplomats in Kathmandu, to witness Nepalīs historic CA Poll happening in front of their eyes with their active participation, gave them unparalleled joy. Many had earlier termed it as Nepal heading up the global multiparty democratic mainstream on its path to full economic recovery. Some stated, Nepal's democratic future is now safely enshrined after several setbacks in its post-modern history starting in 1951. It might be noted that India had provided Nepal's Electon Commission a huge amount of logistics and other crucial support in the run-up to the CA Poll. The US, EU and other Asian countries had also given substantial assistance in the form of logistical mobilization and placement. Some of the election observers such as from the Carter Center Team, UNMIN and ANFRIL are expected to stay on a long term basis to ensure that the voting was indeed according to the democratic wishes of the Nepali people. This must be considered a great moral victory for all freedom loving Nepalis worldwide, including in the U.S and North America. It is also an overall victory for Prime MInister Koirala who has lived upto the commitment of delivering Nepali democracy through a Constituent Assembly Poll and providing all Nepalis equal space as enshrined by late B.P. Koirala. As some old NC leaders are known to have stated in Kathmandu after the CA Poll voting, B.P., Nepal's first democratic P.M., would have been proud to see this day come through, truly a day of national reconciliation achieved through the ballot box.
India has already welcomed the fruitful Nepali electoral exercise, which it termed a historic step that will guarantee long term peace, prosperity and happiness for Nepal through able representation of the Nepali people's democratic aspirations. The spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs of India in New Delhi termed the election as a "happy outcome" which is a "product of the determination of the people of Nepal, with significant contributions by the political parties and the Election Commission of Nepal."
Everyone is heaving a sight of relief in Kathmandu that a major chapter is now over in Nepal's democratic road map. The statement further states the Constituent Assembly provides a platform for the people of Nepal to determine the manner of their governance and their future. There is building optimism among Nepalīs political leaders. Ex-U.S President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter actively engaged themselves in boosting the festive Nepali spirit surrounding the CA Poll. Nearly 17. 6 million Nepali voters, mostly of Hindu-Buddhist origin, were seen joyfully lining up, in many cities, town and villages to exercize their voting rights. Some lines stretched nearly one and a half kilometers within Kathmandu precincts. Yesterday, Nepalīs King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had given separate but identical statements calling on their fellow countrymen to cast an impartial and fair vote that would help preserve Nepalīs sovereignty, independence and democratic credentials through the ballot box. The Nepal Army was known to be in a high state of alert to thwart any crises surrounding the Nepali democratic poll.
It is learnt from Biratnagar media sources that Prime Minister Koirala appeared very jubilant in casting his vote under the proportional system in Morang district. He is one of the sure winners of this CA Poll, having stood up for Nepali democracy his entire lifetime. The PM arrived at the polling booth at Adarsha Higher Secondary School in Biratnagar five minutes after the voting opened at 7:00 am and left the booth at around 7:15 am after casting his vote. He greeted other voters and encouraged them as well to cast their votes impartially. This time for some unforeseen reason, Prime Minister Koirala did not actively campaign for his NC party colleagues like he used to do on previous occasions. He is a strong BPist by inner conviction and has championed national reconciliation on Gandhian lines.
Likewise, Maoist chairman Prachanda cast his ballot in Chitwan district followed by a large retinue of Maoist voters. His dubbed his vote īceremonialī since he is sure to win the contest unchallenged. When Prachanda arrived at the polling center at Laxman Higher Secondary School, surrounded heavily by security guards, included two dozen Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, many voters greeted him and he in turn asked them to be impartial in expressing the mandate through the ballot. Many international and local TV crews and news reporters hounded the Maoist Supremo who appeared to relish the media focus and responded with a beaming smile. One of his close deputies, Ram Bahadur Thapa īBadalī is also in the electoral fray from Chitwan-2 and another likely winner. Similarly, UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, tipped as a likely leftist Prime Minister if his party wins a majority of seats over the NC, exercised his adult franchise by casting his vote along with his 93-year-old father and son at a polling center set up at SOS Youth Village in Koteshwor village, four kilometers east of Kathmandu. When he arrived in the early morning, he was heavily applauded by his supporters and fans.
However the Rastriya Prajantara Party leader and a staunch advocate of British parliamentary style democracy in Nepal, Pashupati Shamshere Rana was barred by Young Communist League cadres from casting his ballot at Sindhupalchowk district. The Election Commission is seriously looking into the incident. Similarly, there were reported booth capturing violations by the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and CPN-M, the three largest parties under the current seven party coalition. The incidents took place in the mid hills and Terai region, but the Election Commission is still verifying the unconfirmed reports before priming for action.
No voter coercion is reported on poll day from any district so far, although an independent candidate was shot in the Terai yesterday evening. There were certain districts in Western Nepal where Maoists were known to have pursued an aggressive drive to forcefully seek the peopleīs mandate in the past few weeks. The active presence of Sher Bahadur Deuba, ex-three time Premier representing NC, who is from that region, might have prompted the Maoist action.
Ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter who has visited Nepal three times in the past two years, and is widely seen as a champion of Nepalīs democracy and human rights, has expressed much happiness in seeing the elections take place smoothly. He has even termed it revolutionary. President Carter took up poll observation duties in historic and beautiful Patan, where he was assigned constituency no. 3 overlooked by picturesque Hindu and Buddhist stupas. Mr. Carter termed Nepalīs CA Poll a ground-breaking event that was "closely watched by the whole world". The ex-U.S President had also brought along with him election observation monitors from nearly two dozen countries comprising 60 experts. All were engaged in active monitoring and observation on behalf of the Carter Center, which has conducted democratic elections in nearly 67 countries worldwide in the past three decades. According to Patan based media sources, in arriving at his designated Poll Center, Mr. Carter expressed amazement in seeing a long queue of voters, all wearing colorful Nepali costumes, eagerly awaiting their turn to cast their ballots. Similarly, various heads of diplomatic missions In Kathmandu also took part in actively monitoring the Nepal CA Polls. Their wholehearted participation speaks amply on the global support to Nepalīs evolving democratic culture culminating with the CA Poll.
According to Kathmandu reprots, some of the young voters had even lined up at 4.00 a.m. to be the first to vote. Young morotocyclists are already readying for motorcycle rallies for their individual candidates victory, once the early Kathmandu winners are declared. The polling centers opened at 7.00 a.m and closed at 5.30 p.m. in most locations. Some of the electronic voting machines in Kathmandu had initially malfunctioned but were quickly brought back to order, without disturbing inputted results. Many Nepali youth clad in baggy jeans and loose shirts were seen backslapping each other and discussing the merits of voting for a particular party, some cracking jokes about their leaders, while others smoking cigarettes and drinking endless cups of heavily boiled Nepali spiced milk tea to keep their spirits up.
The CA election will elect 601 members to Nepalīs new Constituent Assembly which will decide on two major issues: one, develop the framework of a new Constitution of Nepal, based on the past best practices, and two, delineate whether Nepal will stick to the 240 year old monarchy or else adopt a federal republic structure like Germany or Switzerland. The CA Poll is also viewed as formally ending the so-called post-transitional conflict period for Nepal, and helping Nepali democracy get full credence,. All results are expected to be fully available within three weeks, except for re-polled center. The first winners names will likely be announced within 24 hours, according to the CEC Dr. Bhoj Raj Pokhrel.
The elections are also the formal democratic entry for Nepalīs Maoist rebels who fought a bloody civil conflict hat resulted in the death of 13,600 Nepalis. The conflict was largely propelled by Nepalīs building past poverty scenario due to non-inclusive development whereby nearly 40% of the population still live below the UN defined US$2 a day poverty line. The Maoists have now expressed their eagerness to be full time participants in Nepalīs evolving multiparty democratic system in Nepal by actively voting. They are hooting for a Republican set up with other leftist parties. The Maoists previous entry into the Interim Parliament was considered more of a temporary walkover, no one being able to predict whether they would return to the jungles or continue on with their democratic participation. Now, the Maoist Supremo, Prachanda, has even stated that his party is willing to accept the results. The United Nations Mission in Nepal, headed by Ian Martin, had also played a significant role in the CA Poll and unfolding peace process, often squaring one to one with Nepalīs political parties in bringing about the democratic mood transformation.
A total of 54 political parties participated in the elections, which was contested heavily by the top three. According to Nepalīs Election Commission, 20.4 million ballot papers were readied for 240 different kinds (for each constituency) for First Past the Post and 20.8 million ballot papers of single kind for Proportional Representation. Of the 17.6 million voters, 8.8 million were male and 8.73 million female,
For many Western diplomats in Kathmandu, to witness Nepalīs historic CA Poll happening in front of their eyes with their active participation, gave them unparalleled joy. Many had earlier termed it as Nepal heading up the global multiparty democratic mainstream on its path to full economic recovery. Some stated, Nepal's democratic future is now safely enshrined after several setbacks in its post-modern history starting in 1951. It might be noted that India had provided Nepal's Electon Commission a huge amount of logistics and other crucial support in the run-up to the CA Poll. The US, EU and other Asian countries had also given substantial assistance in the form of logistical mobilization and placement. Some of the election observers such as from the Carter Center Team, UNMIN and ANFRIL are expected to stay on a long term basis to ensure that the voting was indeed according to the democratic wishes of the Nepali people. This must be considered a great moral victory for all freedom loving Nepalis worldwide, including in the U.S and North America. It is also an overall victory for Prime MInister Koirala who has lived upto the commitment of delivering Nepali democracy through a Constituent Assembly Poll and providing all Nepalis equal space as enshrined by late B.P. Koirala. As some old NC leaders are known to have stated in Kathmandu after the CA Poll voting, B.P., Nepal's first democratic P.M., would have been proud to see this day come through, truly a day of national reconciliation achieved through the ballot box.
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