The Election Commission on Thursday rejected the recommendations put forth by the European Union Election Observation Mission on ways to reform Nepal’s electoral system saying that its report violated the memorandum of understanding signed by it and the code of conduct for international observers.
The Election Commission on Thursday rejected the recommendations put forth by the European Union Election Observation Mission on ways to reform Nepal’s electoral system saying that its report violated the memorandum of understanding signed by it and the code of conduct for international observers.
On Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry protested the EUEOM’s suggestions and comments, calling them a direct challenge to provisions of the constitution promulgated, in line with the inclusive policy reflective of Nepal’s social structure, by the sovereign decision of the people.
In a statement on Thursday, the EC said the Election Observation Report submitted by the EUEOM on Tuesday violated the MoU signed between EC and the EU on October 24, 2017 and 12 points of the Election Observation Code of Conduct.
The report and the statement issued by the EUEOM “are illusionary and do not reflect facts”, the EC said, adding that it rejected the report completely. “The EC will be more serious in the days to come while permitting election observers,” the constitutional commission said.
Election Commissioner Narendra Dahal said the EUEOM violated the provisions of the MoU that bar observers from acting in a way to create disharmony among the social and religious communities.
“The observer was subjected to prepare its report within the confines of the constitution, which it violated. Despite the EC becoming transparent, it charged the commission with opacity,” Dahal said.
The EUEOM claimed that representation of the well-represented group Khas-Arya arguably contravened international standards of equality, as affirmative measures are foreseen only as a means to promote equality. It also said Christians were not considered for inclusion, despite comprising 1.4 percent of the country’s population.
The EU mission had argued that it was mandated to speak on the issue as Nepal is a party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
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