No change in security front: UN report

Kathmandu, August 29:

The latest United Nations report on Nepal prepared by the Electoral Expert Monitoring Team has said security situation has not improved here since June. The report was handed over to the government by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon last week, a press release said today.

The five-member team appointed by the Secretary-General and led by Dr Rafael Lopez-Pintor is responsible for assessing the electoral process on a regular basis to determine whether it is proceeding in a manner which will lead to a result that accurately reflects the will of the people of Nepal. In its second visit, from July 27 to August 6, 2007, the EEMT established benchmarks for the assessment of preparations for the CA election.

The EEMT completed its second visit to Nepal on 6 August, during which it met with government ministers, district administration officials, MPs, election commissioners, political party representatives, and civil society members.

The EEMT has strongly urged the parties in power to issue a joint public statement expressing their firm commitment to conduct the CA polls on November 22. The EEMT reports that conditions for freedom of the press still prevail in the country. However, it states that the ability of journalists to report faces serious limitations, especially in Tarai.