Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU1714
2007-09-11 11:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
UPDATE ON ELECTION CHALLENGES IN NEPAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001714
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ELECTION CHALLENGES IN NEPAL
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 001714
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ELECTION CHALLENGES IN NEPAL
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On September 7, the Democracy Working Group meeting
focused on IFES, concerns about technical and logistical
challenges to the Constituent Assembly (CA) election. IFES
has made progress in enhancing Nepal's ability to print the
ballots in Nepal for the CA election, however, outstanding
issues include ballot design, a distribution schedule,
transportation and storage logistics, and a decision about
the number of ballots to be produced and distributed in each
constituency. The election violence resolution project is
getting underway. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives
(OTI) reported that the Media Monitoring Project which the
Nepal Press Council, with OTI funding, is undertaking on
behalf of the Election Commission is falling behind schedule.
Contracts Signed for Printing Machines
--------------
2. (C) On September 7, IFES reported to post,s Democracy
Working Group that it had signed contracts for three ballot
printing machines. Two machines from India, and one from
Germany, should be arriving in approximately two weeks and be
operational by September 30. The Government of Nepal,s
printer could then begin printing of the proportional
representation ballots October 1, and first-past-the-post
ballots on October 12.
Outstanding Technical and Logistical Issues
--------------
3. (C) IFES is not convinced that the Election Commission
(EC) recognizes the scope of the outstanding technical and
logistical challenges. Although the EC has so far been
reluctant to accept assistance with ballot design, IFES has
the capability to bring in an international ballot design
consultant, computers, large screen monitors, and printers.
With two long ballots the amount of materials the Commission
has to distribute to each district and then to each polling
station is larger than for previous elections. (Note: Sixty
two parties are registered with the EC. End note.)
Questions of where to store, and how to secure, the materials
in the districts and at the polling stations have not been
fully worked out. IFES would like to ensure that at least
one person in each district receives logistical training.
The EC has not yet decided whether to print an equal number
of ballots for each district, or to target production numbers
more closely to the variation in registered voters. Along
with the extent of overage required to replace damaged
ballots, these decisions will affect the production timeline
and distribution requirements.
Election Violence Resolution Project Getting Going
-------------- --------------
4. (C) The National Democratic Institute (NDI),working
through the Democracy Alliance (DEAN),has established a team
to work with existing domestic observer alliances. The
Election Violence Resolution Project will monitor and report
on election violence and aims to provide some level of
mediation and conflict resolution assistance. Some long-term
observers should be in the field soon, with additional
observers starting work later. Consultants will begin
arriving September 10 to assist with the program.
Media Monitoring Project Falling Behind Schedule
-------------- ---
5. (C) USAID,s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
expressed concern that the Media Monitoring Project has begun
to miss deadlines. The EC has been mandated to monitor the
media and has been working through the Nepal Press Council as
implementing partner and OTI for funding. The original
ambitious plan to monitor all the media in 33 locations
across the country may need to be scaled back somewhat if the
KATHMANDU 00001714 002 OF 002
Nepal Press Council cannot staff the project in time.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Although Prime Minister Koirala has not yet presented
the revised constituency delimitation report to the cabinet,
and the Maoists appear even more hesitant about participating
in the election, participants agreed on the need to assume
the election will be held as scheduled. The outstanding
logistical issues are all manageable. At future group
meetings we will cover post-election planning and possible
ways to assist the new Constituent Assembly.
POWELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM NP
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ELECTION CHALLENGES IN NEPAL
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Randy Berry. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) On September 7, the Democracy Working Group meeting
focused on IFES, concerns about technical and logistical
challenges to the Constituent Assembly (CA) election. IFES
has made progress in enhancing Nepal's ability to print the
ballots in Nepal for the CA election, however, outstanding
issues include ballot design, a distribution schedule,
transportation and storage logistics, and a decision about
the number of ballots to be produced and distributed in each
constituency. The election violence resolution project is
getting underway. USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives
(OTI) reported that the Media Monitoring Project which the
Nepal Press Council, with OTI funding, is undertaking on
behalf of the Election Commission is falling behind schedule.
Contracts Signed for Printing Machines
--------------
2. (C) On September 7, IFES reported to post,s Democracy
Working Group that it had signed contracts for three ballot
printing machines. Two machines from India, and one from
Germany, should be arriving in approximately two weeks and be
operational by September 30. The Government of Nepal,s
printer could then begin printing of the proportional
representation ballots October 1, and first-past-the-post
ballots on October 12.
Outstanding Technical and Logistical Issues
--------------
3. (C) IFES is not convinced that the Election Commission
(EC) recognizes the scope of the outstanding technical and
logistical challenges. Although the EC has so far been
reluctant to accept assistance with ballot design, IFES has
the capability to bring in an international ballot design
consultant, computers, large screen monitors, and printers.
With two long ballots the amount of materials the Commission
has to distribute to each district and then to each polling
station is larger than for previous elections. (Note: Sixty
two parties are registered with the EC. End note.)
Questions of where to store, and how to secure, the materials
in the districts and at the polling stations have not been
fully worked out. IFES would like to ensure that at least
one person in each district receives logistical training.
The EC has not yet decided whether to print an equal number
of ballots for each district, or to target production numbers
more closely to the variation in registered voters. Along
with the extent of overage required to replace damaged
ballots, these decisions will affect the production timeline
and distribution requirements.
Election Violence Resolution Project Getting Going
-------------- --------------
4. (C) The National Democratic Institute (NDI),working
through the Democracy Alliance (DEAN),has established a team
to work with existing domestic observer alliances. The
Election Violence Resolution Project will monitor and report
on election violence and aims to provide some level of
mediation and conflict resolution assistance. Some long-term
observers should be in the field soon, with additional
observers starting work later. Consultants will begin
arriving September 10 to assist with the program.
Media Monitoring Project Falling Behind Schedule
-------------- ---
5. (C) USAID,s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI)
expressed concern that the Media Monitoring Project has begun
to miss deadlines. The EC has been mandated to monitor the
media and has been working through the Nepal Press Council as
implementing partner and OTI for funding. The original
ambitious plan to monitor all the media in 33 locations
across the country may need to be scaled back somewhat if the
KATHMANDU 00001714 002 OF 002
Nepal Press Council cannot staff the project in time.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Although Prime Minister Koirala has not yet presented
the revised constituency delimitation report to the cabinet,
and the Maoists appear even more hesitant about participating
in the election, participants agreed on the need to assume
the election will be held as scheduled. The outstanding
logistical issues are all manageable. At future group
meetings we will cover post-election planning and possible
ways to assist the new Constituent Assembly.
POWELL