NEPAL'S ELECTION COMMISSION REQUESTS DONOR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001348

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS, SA/PD AND DRL

DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS USAID FOR ANE/SA AND ANE/RA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV EAID PREL NP GON
SUBJECT: NEPAL'S ELECTION COMMISSION REQUESTS DONOR
ASSISTANCE

REF: KATHMANDU 1285


1. (U) This is an action message. Please see Para 13.

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SUMMARY
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2. (SBU) Summary: Despite growing concern that security
considerations and other factors may force the cancellation
of national elections planned for November 13 (reftel),the
Government of Nepal (GON) is, ostensibly at least,
proceeding with preparations. On July 5 the Election
Commission presented donors with a lengthy wish list that
includes even the most basic equipment--a strong indication
that the GON is unprepared to meet most of the costs of
holding the polls. The Embassy believes that the USG should
support GON efforts to hold free and fair elections by
committing to supply some of the requested items that we are
best positioned to provide--such as voter education and
Internet assistance. Department is requested to advise how
the U.S. Mission may indicate its support in advance of a
July 16 donor meeting on this topic. End summary.

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INK AND INTERNET: EC LISTS MULTIPLE NEEDS
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3. (SBU) Reftel detailed growing concern among a wide
range of observers that the November 13 national elections
may be cancelled for a number of reasons, including security
and a pending Supreme Court decision on their
constitutionality. So far, no decision has been made on
proposals to hold the elections in two or more discrete
phases. Nonetheless, the Government of Nepal (GON) is
plowing ahead with initial preparations--e.g., an appeal to
the donor community to supply most of the nuts and bolts
needed to hold the elections. (Note: The FY 03 budget
announced July 8 allocates approximately USD 7 million in
funding for the Election Commission, a 54.4 percent increase
over last year.) In addition, the Election Commission (EC)
is reportedly consulting with the political parties on the
number and location of polling places, and a committee is
working to update the constituencies to reflect the latest
national census figures.


4. (U) On July 5 the three-member EC convened a meeting of
the donor community to present a lengthy wish list of basic
needs. A synopsis of the list, with costs estimated by the
EC, follows below:

A) Six new photocopiers to copy voters' lists (est. cost for
four copiers: USD 100,000);

B) 40 telefax machines for use in district election offices
(est. cost: USD 13,000);

C) 6,500 ballot boxes (est. cost: USD 250,000);

D) Training for 7,000 polling officers (est. cost: USD
307,500);

E) Training for 205 Returning Officers (est. cost: USD
32,000);

F) Voter education and awareness (est. cost: USD 128,000);

G) 30 ml indelible ink for 7,000 polling centers (est.
cost: USD 28,000);

H) Printing press for ballot papers (est. cost: USD
32,000);

I) Uploading of electoral roll and vote count on Internet
(est. cost: USD 41,000);

J) International election observers (cost not estimated);

K) Mobile satellite communications system for 19 districts
with no telephone service (cost not estimated);

L) Media center (cost not estimated); and

M) Printing and distribution of Voter ID Cards in 13
constituencies (cost not estimated).

5. (SBU) None of the donors at the July 5 meeting
committed to supplying any of the requested items. Donors
are meeting among themselves July 16 to discuss which, if
any, of the requested items their governments may be able to
provide. The UNDP, which coordinated international election
observers for the 1999 elections, was asked to once again
play this role. UNDP agreed, but reminded the government
that it takes time to organize observers, implying that it
is critical to set the date(s) well in advance, particularly
if the election will be held in multiple phases. (Note:
the GON said that it will fix the dates "at least two months
before the election." End Note.) The Danes, who have an
ongoing program of technical assistance to the Election
Commission, agreed to play a coordinating role among donors
for financial support as it had in the last elections.

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MILITARY PREPARATIONS
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6. (SBU) The military, which will be working with the
police to provide security for the elections, has cancelled
all training from October to December. Troops will begin
deployment six weeks before the beginning of elections. The
Royal Nepal Army is planning to hold a briefing on its
preparations to provide security for elections July 16.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USG SUPPORT
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7. (SBU) Despite our own reservations about whether the
elections can be held as scheduled, the Embassy believes
that the USG, as a matter of policy, should be forthcoming
in its support for GON efforts to hold free and fair
national elections. The post Democracy Committee met on
July 9 to review the EC's request, and noted four areas
where we believe the U.S. Mission can be most helpful.


8. (SBU) Voter Education and Awareness Raising. USAID has
funded, through the National Democratic Institute (NDI),a
successful voter-education project that concludes in August.
This program has produced voter education pamphlets; a 10-
episode radio drama in ten languages which aired nationally;
and election manuals for district-level officials and
community/political leaders which have been used in training
at district and constituency levels in selected districts.
In our view, USAID's experience in this area, and the fact
that USAID has been the only donor supporting voter
education, makes voter education the most logical and cost-
effective assistance we can offer. We also believe that the
needs for awareness raising and education are much greater
than estimated by the EC.


9. (SBU) Media Center at Election Commission: Since most
media centers--at least those for the international press
pool--are self-funded, we do not recommend financial support
for the establishment of such a center. On the other hand,
we do anticipate that the GON will need substantial
technical assistance to plan such a center. The GON could
capitalize on the expertise acquired in setting up the
center, replicating it during future events of international
interest. We thus recommend that the Department fund a
short-term consultant to work with the GON on devising a
plan for the establishment, operation and funding of the
center.


10. (SBU) Internet Posting of Electoral Role and Vote
Count: We recommend funding the uploading of the electoral
roll and the voters lists on the Internet. Some of the
funding for this initiative could come from reprogrammed FY
02 ESF funds or from PD funds.


11. (SBU) Electoral Observers: The Election Commission
requested all donors to provide observers for the election.
Estimating the cost of providing such observers will be
difficult until the Election Commission decides whether to
hold the election in phases. We should, however, be
prepared to fund at least a modest contingent of observers
for a minimum of 10 days each, as well as any required
training. The Asia Foundation has submitted an unsolicited
proposal (forwarded by e-mail to SA/INS) for support for
election observers.


12. (SBU) Funding: Mission understands that USAID's ANE
Bureau may be prepared to provide USD 250,000 for election-
related support. This is welcomed. For financial
contributions beyond that amount, the Mission could
reprogram some of the already requested USD 750,000 in
Economic Support Funds (ESF) for FY 02 for other programs.

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ACTION REQUEST
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13. (SBU) Action Request: Embassy requests Department
guidance in advance of the July 16 donors meeting on which
of the items requested by the EC we may be prepared to
support. If the Department agrees that some of the items
requested could be supported from reprogrammed FY 02 ESF
funds, Department is requested to advise when such funds may
become available.

MALINOWSKI