Nepal gears up for CA polls AUG 12, KATHMANDU. The matters of the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election have been the talk of the town with the government announcing the second CA election for November 19. With the announcement of the election date, political parties in Nepal have geared up for the election. Despite the political parties’ agreement on promulgating a new constitution through the CA, people’s dream of getting their constitution is yet to be materialized. The CA election has been a hot agenda of the hour with the dissolution of the first CA on May 27, 2012. The first CA was dissolved without giving the nation new constitution on that date and the then government had announced a second CA election. The first CA failed to promulgate a new constitution due to differing views among the political parties about the constitution matters and finally it was dissolved, creating doubts over the drafting of a new constitution. The discussion about drafting a new constitution through the CA had begun in 1950. The Nepali Congress through its Bairganiya National Conference had declared to change the country’s ruling system through the CA. A five-point proposal sent by the then Indian Government to the Rana regime when the then King Tribhuvan was in exile in India included the matter of CA election. Although King Tribhuvan had announced the ruling system as per the republican constitution formulated by the people’s elected constitutional assembly, the announcement had not been implemented. The then CPN (Maoist) again raised the issue in 2058 BS. The 12-point agreement reached between the then seven political parties and CPN (Maoist) on Mangsir 7, 2062 BS, the issue of drafting a new constitution by people’s representatives through the CA election had been the matter of hot debate. Finally, the 240-year-old monarchy was overthrown and the political parties agreed to hold the CA election on Chait 28, 2064 BS. Initially, the CA had a term of two years and it was extended time and again. But, finally the then government announced its dissolution and decided to go for the second election. The world history of CA election was started when the Federal Constitution Convention was constituted in America in 1775-76 AD. Germany had witnessed the CA election after the Second World War whereas Switzerland, South Africa and India also went through the CA election. Among over 200 countries in the world, only 40 countries including Norway ( 1814), Argentina ( 1853), Russia (1918), Germany (1919), Lithuania (1920), South Africa (1994), East Timor ( 1996) and Venezuela ( 1919) got the new constitution drafted through the CA. Besides, many countries including France share the history of CA failure as in Nepal.The world history of CA failure shows that lack of clarity on the concept of constitution, lack of citizen’s education and proper management of transition and imbalance between people’s aspirations and CA structure are the major causes of unsuccessful CA. Holding the second CA election successfully and thereby drafting a new constitution through the CA is not an easy task. Massive participation of people and support of all including the foreign communities is essential to make the election successful. Biometric voters’ list strong base for fair election With the announcement of the second Constituent Assembly (CA) election for November 19, the Election Commission has made arrangement of biometric voters’ list, which is expected to be a strong base for fair, impartial and reliable elections. The Election Commission is going to use the biometric voters’ name list for the first time on November 19. The biometric voter’s list is considered as a tool for ensuring free and fair elections. Voter’s photograph, voting number, date of birth, details of citizenship, names of parents and spouse are registered in this type of name list. The voter should compulsorily show her/his citizenship or identity card before the election officers to cast the vote. According to EC, a total of 12,308,314 Nepali citizens eligible for voting or completing 18 years of age have registered their names in the biometric name list.The Commission is learnt to have been planning to publish the final name list with making necessary corrections soon. Voters themselves can visit the Commission’s website election.gov.np to check out their details in the voters’ list. The biometric voters’ list is also expected to be used for preparing the national identity card of people in the future. As per the latest national census, the population of Nepal is 26,494,506 whereas the population completing 18 years of age is 16,407, 213. It shows that around 4.2 million people eligible for voting are left out to enter their names in the voter’s name list. Now the EC is worried about how to secure the voting rights of people and discussions are underway whether the name registration can be reopened for a short time. Likewise, the number of Nepalis working abroad taking work permit from the Department of Labour is over 2.9 million. It may be noted that 17,611,832 people had taken part in the first 2008 CA election which is more by 5,302,518 as compared to the people registered in the name list for the second election this time. The Commission’s five-year strategic plan brought after the first CA election had a target of bringing the biometric voters’ name list into implementation. What leaders say ? Different political parties, government, Election Commission and bodies concerned have been engaged in the preparation of election to the Constituent Assembly (CA) after a next CA election was declared for November 19. The incumbent government declared the election date for November 19 after major political parties formed an Interim Election Council under the chairmanship of Chief Justice, Khil Raj Regmi, six months ago, by reaching an 11-point and 25-point agreements. The High-Level Political Committee (HLPC) has been forwarding talks with the dissenting parties including the CPN-Maoist by addressing their demands in order to hold decisive talks by August 16 and the government has also been engaged for the same. The Election Commission has been engaged in the preparation of election in an expedited manner by releasing the election scheduled to hold CA election on the stipulated date whereas the government, major political parties and bodies concerned have been engaged in election campaign saying election was the outlet to the existing political crisis. Talking to RSS at a time when only 100 days are remaining to go for the declared CA election, top leaders of the different political parties said that they have engaged in the preparation to CA election and added that all should participate in the election as it was only an outlet to the existing political crisis. Stating that holding CA election in the present situation was urgent in every point of view, Chairman of the CPN (UML), Jhalanath Khanal has said that it was the responsibility of all the political parties and people to make the CA election declared on November 19 a success. Khanal said there was no alternative to the next CA election for institutionalizing changes brought by the democratic movements and the achievements and democracy. He appealed all to hold CA election on the stipulated date and to open up doors of fate and future of the country. Khanal said his party has made preparations for people’s mobilization in all constituencies and added that policy on preparation of manifesto and declaration of candidates will be decided by holding central committee meeting soon. Vice-President of the Nepali Congress, Ram Chandra Poudel, has said that it was necessary to hold CA election on the stipulated date for the development of the country and for an outlet to the political crisis by ending the political transition existing in the country for long. Poudel added CA election was indispensible to protect achievements gained from the different movements and to fulfill the aspirations of the people of promulgating the new constitution from the Constituent Assembly. He said election should be held in the participation of all parties as far as possible by addressing rightful demands of the dissenting parties.Poudel added initiatives were underway to forge consensus for the same. UCPN-Maoist leader, Narayankaji Shrestha, said that CA election was the best alternative to end the existing political transition and added that the party has called on all the people to participate in the election. He said they have urged all to participate in the election to institutionalize achievements gained from political movements and issues of social justice including inclusion and secularism as well as federalism with identity. Responding to a query by RSS, Shrestha said there was no alternative to CA election to institutionalize agendas of progressive change of the country. He said his party has assured that the CA to be formed from the election declared for November 19 would give new constitution to Nepali people. Coordinator of the United Democratic Madhesi Front and Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Democratic), Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar, has urged the voters to participate in the election being fearless. He said there was no doubt that the election would be a success at a time when there was commitment for a complete support for election from international arena and that positive environment has been created and the government, EC and security bodies have been doing necessary homework for the same. Chairman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Surya Bahadur Thapa, has called on all to participate in the CA election as it was extraordinary election to promulgate new constitution for the country. Thapa said support of all was necessary to make the election a success as the country would be pushed towards darkness if the constitution was not promulgated. He said his party has been engaged for the preparation of the election and added that the party has been launching people’s mobilization campaign. RSS
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 10:16:46 +0000
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