Kathmandu, April 12:

Making public its preliminary report on election observation, the Asian Network for Free Election (ANFREL) today said Nepali people were very enthusiastic about the constituent assembly polls and the polls were held largely in an independent and peaceful manner, despite some incidents of violence and irregularities.

“A strong turnout of voters in this post-conflict environment and enormous enthusiasm for the election shows the will of Nepali people for a more inclusive and democratic government,” stated the report. The ANFREL called the political parties to respect the will of the people.

The report stated that a few districts like Gorkha and Arghakhanchi saw more widespread problems of intimidation and bar on free movement of voters.

According to ANFREL, the polling officials were reluctant to address the problems regarding the intimidation either because they themselves were intimidated or because they complied with the intimidating party.

“The presence of unauthorised people, from family members to cadres of political groups, in the polling stations was not always rigorously challenged and minor infractions of the law were sometimes deemed acceptable in the general festive atmosphere,” stated the report.

The report stated the administration of polling on the election day was conducted well and officials were generally well trained, competent and neutral; and initial confusion in some polling stations about the roles and responsibilities of staff or setting up the station were quickly resolved.

The ANFREL also stated that the secrecy of the vote was not consistently ensured in a number of polling stations, specially in Ramechhap, Gorkha, Dhanusha and cantonment in Dhangadi. “Party agents were found to be directing the people whom to vote for.”

It said the voters’ education was not sufficient for a mixed system where people had to cast two votes. “Some voters in remote rural areas who did not receive invitation letters from the Election Commission assumed they were not on voters’ list,” it added.