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) on April 4, 2008

1. Unidentified group attacked Mr. Mohamood Rani, appointed as temporary police at Pakari VDC, Saptari district on 4 April 2008. Mr. Rani was attacked while he was on the way back to district headquarters for training.

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

Code No 31 – No person shall distract any employee associated with election and the security personnel from responsibility to maintain peace and security from his or her duties by way of showing or exercising any kind of fear, terror, threat or force or showing gratification.

2. A group of CPN Maoist cadres consisting approximately 80 individuals led by Mr. Deepak Regmi attacked CPN UML cadres with spade and sticks at Thakre VDC, Dhading district on April 4, 2008. A total of 18 CPN UML cadres were injured in the incident.

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

Code No 13 – In course of election publicity campaigns, carrying of arms and weapons or explosives, or display or use of chemical or poisonous materials, or sticks, spears, Khukuris and the likes of sharp and dangerous nature is prohibited.

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 has taken place between the CPN UML and CPN Maoist cadres in Dolakha district on April 4, 2008, when CPN UML group was returning to district headquarters from Bhainse after completing the election canvassing. Minor damage has caused to a jeep and bus used by CPN UML.

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

Code No 13 – In course of election publicity campaigns, carrying of arms and weapons or explosives, or display or use of chemical or poisonous materials, or sticks, spears, Khukuris and the likes of sharp and dangerous nature is prohibited.

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 UML cadres attempted to attack CPN Maoist’s vehicles loaded with election publicity materials at Khadichour, Sindhupalchowk on April 4, 2008.

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

Code No 16 – No political party or candidate or their supporters shall disturb or obstruct any procession or mass meeting organized by another party or candidate.

5. A clash took place between NC and CPN Maoist cadres at Tilar VDC, Parbat district on April 4, 2008. The incident took place when CPN Maoist cadres reached to NC cadre Mr. Dinesh Basne’s house in the course of electoral canvassing and the arguments intensified between the two groups.

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

Code No 34 – No person shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to disturb the election or create hatred toward election or create confusion or cause obstruction to election.

6. CPN Maoist cadres beat Mr. Ramhari Thapa, Assistant Polling Officer at Gomane VDC, Dhading district on April 3, 2008.

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. A clash took place between the CPN UML and NC cadres at Sahare VDC, Dolakha district on April 3, 2008 at 1600 hours, where four CPN UML and six NC cadres were injured. In the same VDC, NC cadres torched a house owned by CPN UML cadre Mr. Narayan Dhoj Khadka. Another clash also took place between the very parties at 900 hours on April 4, 2008.

The above incidents draw 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.

8. A group of CPN Maoist cadres prohibited CPN UML team lead by Mr. Ramesh Wagle to conduct electoral campaign activities at Saipur VDC, Ramechhap on April 4, 2008. Further, CPN Maoist cadres looted CPN UML electoral publicity materials from Bijulikot, Ramechhap district on the same day.

Similarly, CPN Maoist district in-charge Mr. Rajan Dahal speaking at the all party meeting at the district headquarters has given warning for not allowing election observers in the village on April 3, 2008 in Ramechhap 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.

9. Unidentified group detonated a bomb at the house of Mr. Ajay Chaurasiya, NC candidate for Parsa Constituency – three at Birjung, Parsa district on April 3, 2008 at 1900 hours.

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.

10. Young Communist League (YCL) obstructed Nepali Congress (NC) electoral mass meeting at Hatiya VDC-5, Makwanpur district on April 3, 2008. However, the mass meeting was not disturbed.

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.

11. YCL cadres beat CPN UML cadres at Rowa VDC, Mugu district on April 3, 2008. The incident took place when CPN UML cadres protested CPN Maoist’s attempt to paste posters at their houses.

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.

12. Janatantrik Terai Mukti Morcha (JTMM) led by Jwala Singh cadres attacked Mr. Bharat Pradhan, CPN UML cadre at his home at Gaushala, Mahottari district on April 3, 2008. The group led by Mr. Gabbar Singh, Mahottari in-charge of JTMM detonated a bomb at Mr. Pradhan’s premises.

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

Code No 34 – No person shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to disturb the election or create hatred toward election or create confusion or cause obstruction to election.

13. CPN Maoist cadres have prohibited Mr. Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa, NC candidate for Sindhupalchowk Constituency – two at Jalbire, Sindhupalchowk district for conducting electoral campaign on April 3, 2008. CPN Maoist cadres pelted stones at NC group in the same place.

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

Code No 16 – No political party or candidate or their supporters shall disturb or obstruct any procession or mass meeting organized by another party or candidate.

14. Unidentified group has detonated a bomb at night in the district headquarters of Kapilvastu district on April 3, 2008.

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.

15. CPN UML cadres have attacked CPN Maoist cadre Mr. Min Bahadur Gharti at Gutu VDC, Surkhet district on April 2, 2008. Mr. Bista was 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 34 – No person shall do, or caused to be done, any act in such a manner as to disturb the election or create hatred toward election or create confusion or cause obstruction to election.

16. A group of CPN UML supports vendalised Janamorcha Nepal party office at Kaskikot VDC, Kaski district on April 2, 2008.

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.

17. A group of CPN Maoist cadres torched CPN UML’s flag at Koti, Kapilvastu district on April 2, 2008. The incident took place after 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.

18. CPN UML cadres vandalized NC party office in Bajura district on April 1, 2008. The incident took place accusing NC that used domestic weapons to UML cadres in a clash few days ago.

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

Code No 13 – In course of election publicity campaigns, carrying of arms and weapons or explosives, or display or use of chemical or poisonous materials, or sticks, spears, Khukuris and the likes of sharp and dangerous nature is prohibited.