For the Record, from the Campaign Trail

Conducts against the election code of conduct: This ‘Constituent Assembly Member Election 2008 Observation Bulletin’ was prepared by the National Election Monitoring Alliance (NEMA)

1. A clash took place between the activists of Madheshi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and Terai Madesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) at Tribhuvan Chowk in Nepalgunj on March 27, 2008 at around 1930 hours. The clash aroused with the minor dispute between the two party cadres. According to NEMA district representative, Mr. Jabbir Alam Siddhique, Municipal Coordinator of TMLP has been injured in the incident and taken him to India for treatment.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.

2. An unidentified group comprising three individuals killed Mr. Gulab Chandra Chaudhary, activist of the Youth Forum of the sister organization of Nepal Sadbhavawana Party (NSP) led by Mr. Rajendra Mahato on 27 March 2008 in Sunsari. The incident took place in Chandbela VDC, Sunsari around 1900 hours. Mr. Chaudhary was died on the way to hospital.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.

3. A clash took place in Tanmana VDC Sunsari district between Nepal Sadbhawana Party (NSP) led by Mr. Rajendra Mahato and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) cadres on March 27, 2008. A total of three NSP cadres have sustained injury.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.

4. CPN Maoist cadres have obstructed two election mass meetings organized by CPN UML in Dolakha district on 28 March 2008 using domestic weapons. UML leader Mr. Pashupati Chaulagain and Mr. Ananda Pokharel were supposed to address the election mass meetings, which could not take place due to obstruction.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.

5. Nepali Congress (NC) has called for strike in district headquarters of Dhading district from 900 to 1300 hours on March 28, 2008 in protest of yesterday’s (March 27 2008) attack to its candidate and cadres in Baseri VDC, Dhadhing by CPN Maoist cadres. NC has issued a release to this effect demanding a high level body to investigate the incident.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.

6. A clash bas taken place between CPN UML cadres and police in Chainpur, Bajhang on March 28, 2008. The clashed took place when police tried to prevent a likely scuffle between Nepali Congress and CPN UML cadres. It has been reported by NEMA representative that 19 CPN UML cadres have been injured and two of them are said to be in critical condition. Similarly, four policemen have also been sustained injury in the clash.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.

7. CPN Maoist cadres have looted election publicity materials being used by UML candidate for Sindhupalchowk constituency – one Mr. Ram Hari Nepal from Mangkha VDC, Sindhupalchowk district.

The above incident draws attention to following code of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’:

Code No 33 – No person shall stop, detain or block any candidate from canvassing election for election by committing such acts as using or showing fear, threat or terror or intimidation or force nor shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to cause direct or indirect impacting the election.