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 5, 2008.

1. CPN Maoist cadres abducted Mr. Chandra Bahadur Shahi, CPN UML candidate for Mugu from Rowa VDC, Mugu district on April 5, 2008. Candidate Mr. Shahi was released later.

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. YCL cadres looted election campaign materials from RJP canvassing team at Kalyan VDC, Surkhet district on April 5, 2008.

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

Code No 11 – No pamphlet or election symbol affixed for the purpose of election publicity campaign shall be removed, torn, or got one’s poster posted thereon by any one representing another political party or candidate.

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.

3. NC cadres led by Mr. Ghana Shyam Budha beat CPN UML cadre Mr. Jagjit Budha at Rauche VDC, Salyan district on April 5, 2008. Mr. Jagjit Budha was injured in the incident. Similarly, CPN Maoist cadres attempted to obstruct CPN UML electoral mass meeting at Pipalbot VDC, Salyan district on April 5, 2008.

The above incidents draw attention to following codes 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.

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 misbehaved villagers heading toward NC electoral mass meeting at Rampur VDC, Dang district on April 5, 2008. CPN Maoist cadres torched NC party flag and attempted to beat NC cadres.

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. Young Communist League (YCL) cadres took five Rastriya Janashakti Party (RJP) cadres in their captivity in Dhankuta district on April 4, 2008 and released them on April 5, 2008. YCL cadres had taken them in their control with the accusation of distributing money to the villages buy votes.

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 took place between NC and YCL cadres at Kawaswoti, Nawalparasi on April 5, 2008. Over 20 people were injured in the clash and one motorcycle vandalized.

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 abducted Mr. Bishnu BK, member of Prajatantrik Rastriya Yuwa Sangh from Hadhade, Gulmi district on April 5, 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.

8. CPN UML and CPN Maoist cadres clashed in Hat VDC, Baitadi district on April 5, 2008. The clash occurred when CPN UML cadres were heading toward police station to lodge a complain against CPN Maoist alleging breach of ‘The Code of Conduct on Election to Members of the Constituent Assembly 2007’. In the clash, seven CPN Maoist cadres and one policeman were injured.

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. CPN Maoist cadres abducted Mr. Ashok Rai, CPN UML candidate for Udayapur Constituency – one and Dr. Upendra Koirala, Vice-Chairman of Higher Secondary Education Board on April 4, 2008 from Jogini Pakha, Rampur VDC-6, Udeypur district at 0130 hours. The abducted duos were sleeping in local Mr. Darlami Magar’s House while abducting. CPN UML cadres were successful in releasing Mr. Rai and Dr. Koirala from CPN Maoist captivity on April 5, 2008. Meanwhile, CPN UML cadres arrested six CPN Maoist cadres involved in abduction and handed over them to local police.

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.

10. Terai Janajagaran Mukti Morcha (TJMM) cadres threatened Mr. Ashok Yadav, Nepal Workers and Peasant Party (NWPP) candidate for Saptari Constituency – three on April 4, 2008 to withdraw his candidacy. TJMM cadres also opened fire at Mr. Yadav’s house.

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.

11. A group of Nepali Congress (NC) cadres led by Mr. Matrika Singh attacked CPN Maoist cadres at the Odanaku VDC, Kalikot district on April 4, 2008. The NC cadres used domestic weapons, such as Khukuri, knife and chain of bicycle in the attack. CPN Maoist cadres Ms. Pancha Singh, Ms. Kalpana Singh and Mr. Padam Rawal were seriously injured in the mishap.

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. An unidentified group detonated the bombs at Maitighar Mandala, near to Ministry of Local Development in Pulchowk, Public Transport Corporation premises at Pulchowk and CPN Maoist sister organization Newa Khala, in Kathmandu on April 4, 2008 evening. No human casualty took place in the incident.

Similarly an unidentified group detonated a bomb at Inaruwa, Sunsari district on April 4, 2008. A girl child aged one and half years was injured in the mishap.

The above incidents draw 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 begun to intermediate and threat local villagers in Maila, Madan, Kalika, Shree Nagar VDCs, Humla district on their way to election canvassing.

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.

14. On April 4, 2008, YCL cadres created obstruction to Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of RJP on his way to election campaign at Parewa VDC, Dhankuta district. However, Mr. Thapa was able to arrive electoral mass meeting venue later with the help of Armed Police Personnel who made the way clear.

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. Police have arrested two individuals with weapons from Jamraha VDC, Morang district on April 4, 2008. Among arrested individuals, Mr. Sita Ram Chaudhari is known to be associated with Tarai Mukti Morcha (Jwala Singh) and Mr. Pradip Narayan Majhi cadre of Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF). Police have recovered one pistol and four round bullets from them.

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.