Poor environment for polls in Nepal: observers

The ANFREL observers pointed out that the Youth Communist League, the youth wing of Maoist as the primary aggressor in violent conflicts between political parties, reports Anirban Roy.

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has reported that the environment for the Constituent Assembly election in Nepal is weakening in the majority of districts.

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The ANFREL, in its second pre-election report said that rivalry between political parties is resulting in incidents of violence and intimidation across the country, adding that the response by the authorities has also been inadequate.

The pre-poll report, which is based on findings from its 20 international election observers deployed across the country since March 15, the ANFREL officials, claimed, adding that the political parties should ensure utmost restraint at every step.

Somsri Hananuntasuk, the executive director of ANFREL, said that the parties should implement agreements and declarations agreed on curbing election-related violence and refrain from using party cadres in large numbers around polling stations. The report pointed out that both the Maoists and non-Maoist elements as causes of poll violence.

The ANFREL observers pointed out that the Youth Communist League, the youth wing of Maoist as the primary aggressor in violent conflicts between political parties. Another team of 80 ANFREL observers is arriving in Kathmandu on Thursday.