Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1784
2006-07-07 11:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS -- A LONG AND
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001784
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS -- A LONG AND
DIFFICULT ROAD
REF: KATHMANDU 1744
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nicholas Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001784
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS -- A LONG AND
DIFFICULT ROAD
REF: KATHMANDU 1744
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nicholas Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On July 5, a team visiting from the International
Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) told Charge and
Emboffs that ideal election preparations to a constituent
assembly would likely take at least one year from the time
the Government of Nepal (GON) begins planning. The IFES team
conceded, however, that credible elections could be possible
by the GON's proposed March/April 2007 election date. End
Summary.
Elections Could Take A Year
--------------
2. (C) The IFES representatives were concerned that many in
Nepal were calling for elections as soon as possible, but
that the planning and logistics do not yet exist. The team
suggested that the political parties were willing to accept a
"not very perfect" election in order to hold it quickly.
Vasu Mohan, IFES South Asia Representative based in New
Delhi, explained that a credible voter registration would
take some months.
Confusion About Electoral System
--------------
3. (C) The GON still needs to decide what type of system it
wants to have for constituent assembly elections. IFES told
us that Nepal was seriously considering moving from a first
past the post electoral system to a proportional
representation system, and IFES was providing information
about different proportional representation systems. Dr.
Jorgen Elklit, an electoral systems design specialist, said
that it would "not be too difficult for Nepal to put
something together that would work."
Complete Paralysis In Election Commission
--------------
4. (C) The IFES team stated that there was "complete
paralysis" at the Election Commission. Not only were the
Election Commissioners largely absent, but the bureaucrats
were worried that they might lose their positions under an
Interim Constitution. The IFES South Asia Representative
said that the political leaders did not trust the Election
Commissioners, who were viewed as Royal appointees. IFES
reported that the workers in the Election Commission were all
still reporting to work, although they were not actually
doing anything -- simply waiting for direction from the GON.
IFES continues its work with the bureaucrats in the Election
Commission since it is likely the GON would need to draw upon
the Commission's institutional capacity even if the GON were
to establish a parallel umbrella structure for constituent
assembly elections.
PM Calls On Election Commissioner To Resign
--------------
5. (C) Media reported on July 7 that the Prime Minister had
asked for the Chief Election Commissioner, Keshav Raj
Rajbhandari, to resign. According to press reports, if
Rajbhandari chose not to resign, the GON would pursue
impeachment. News reports indicate that Rajbhandari has not
yet resigned. Manohar Bhattarai, Spokesperson for the
Parliament Secretariat, told us that no impeachment case had
been filed on July 7.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GON has officially asked for UN monitoring of
constituent assembly elections (reftel). The international
community needs to beef up technical support to the GON and
the Election Commission to prepare for the elections the GON
proposes to hold in March/April 2007.
DEAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2016
TAGS: PGOV KDEM NP
SUBJECT: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS -- A LONG AND
DIFFICULT ROAD
REF: KATHMANDU 1744
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nicholas Dean. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On July 5, a team visiting from the International
Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) told Charge and
Emboffs that ideal election preparations to a constituent
assembly would likely take at least one year from the time
the Government of Nepal (GON) begins planning. The IFES team
conceded, however, that credible elections could be possible
by the GON's proposed March/April 2007 election date. End
Summary.
Elections Could Take A Year
--------------
2. (C) The IFES representatives were concerned that many in
Nepal were calling for elections as soon as possible, but
that the planning and logistics do not yet exist. The team
suggested that the political parties were willing to accept a
"not very perfect" election in order to hold it quickly.
Vasu Mohan, IFES South Asia Representative based in New
Delhi, explained that a credible voter registration would
take some months.
Confusion About Electoral System
--------------
3. (C) The GON still needs to decide what type of system it
wants to have for constituent assembly elections. IFES told
us that Nepal was seriously considering moving from a first
past the post electoral system to a proportional
representation system, and IFES was providing information
about different proportional representation systems. Dr.
Jorgen Elklit, an electoral systems design specialist, said
that it would "not be too difficult for Nepal to put
something together that would work."
Complete Paralysis In Election Commission
--------------
4. (C) The IFES team stated that there was "complete
paralysis" at the Election Commission. Not only were the
Election Commissioners largely absent, but the bureaucrats
were worried that they might lose their positions under an
Interim Constitution. The IFES South Asia Representative
said that the political leaders did not trust the Election
Commissioners, who were viewed as Royal appointees. IFES
reported that the workers in the Election Commission were all
still reporting to work, although they were not actually
doing anything -- simply waiting for direction from the GON.
IFES continues its work with the bureaucrats in the Election
Commission since it is likely the GON would need to draw upon
the Commission's institutional capacity even if the GON were
to establish a parallel umbrella structure for constituent
assembly elections.
PM Calls On Election Commissioner To Resign
--------------
5. (C) Media reported on July 7 that the Prime Minister had
asked for the Chief Election Commissioner, Keshav Raj
Rajbhandari, to resign. According to press reports, if
Rajbhandari chose not to resign, the GON would pursue
impeachment. News reports indicate that Rajbhandari has not
yet resigned. Manohar Bhattarai, Spokesperson for the
Parliament Secretariat, told us that no impeachment case had
been filed on July 7.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The GON has officially asked for UN monitoring of
constituent assembly elections (reftel). The international
community needs to beef up technical support to the GON and
the Election Commission to prepare for the elections the GON
proposes to hold in March/April 2007.
DEAN