Dedicated to Daniel Pearl

All political parties in Nepal, especially Maoists must immediately stop their violence for a free and fair Constituent Assembly (CA) polls, scheduled for April 10. Although major political parties–NC, UML and the Maoists–last week struck an understanding expressing commitment to stop violence and assist each other in conducting the polls in a free and fair manner, the violence has continued unabated. Reports are pouring in from out of Kathmandu valley that Maoists are still intimidating general public and are not letting other political parties to conduct their election programs in the so-called Maoist-controlled areas. It’s a serious violation of election code of conduct and it has raised a question on the Maoists’ commitment to democratic principles. Reports also say the Maoists are coercing people to vote for them. They are threatening people  that they will be punished if they fail to vote for the Maoists.

Maoists must understand that competition is a part of democracy. If violence continues, it will question the legitimacy of Constituency Assembly poll, this is what royalists want. Maoists must seriously take it and behave like a responsible democratic political party.