Kathmandu, June 14, 2007

Former US President Jimmy Carter today held a meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala where he underscored the need to improve the security situation for ‘free and fair’ constituent assembly elections.

Carter, who is here on behalf of The Carter Center, told Koirala that “law and order situation must be strong and peace should be consolidated during the period of transition.” After the half-an-hour-long meeting, Carter told journalists that he was impressed with Koirala’s leadership.

He said Koirala is the base on which peace and the future of democracy in Nepal can been built. “I had a very good meeting with the Prime Minister, whom I admire very much. He has been a hero for me given his stature, reputation and integrity,” said Carter. He also thanked Koirala for apprising him of the future plans, which he believed “was very good for holding successful elections.” Koirala told Carter that security was the government’s priority and that he has been raising the issue with the eight-party leadership. He also told Carter that he was “committed to holding the elections on time and in a free and fair manner.” “He (Carter) stressed the need to improve the security situation and hold free, fair and inclusive elections,” Acting Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya, who also attended the meeting at Baluwatar, said.

Cater also held meetings with Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel and other officials of the Election Commission.

House okays CA member election bill

Kathmandu, June 14, 2007

The Parliament today unanimously passed the Constituent Assembly Member Election Bill 2007.

The Bill bars those indicted by the Rayamajhi Commission from contesting the constituent assembly elections.

According to the Bill, members of the Constituent Assembly will be elected in three ways — through first-past-the post system, proportional representation system and nomination by the cabinet. The passage of the Bill has paved the way for the conduct of CA elections by mid-December.

According to the Bill, 240 members will be elected through first-past-thepost system, 240 members through proportional representation system and 17 members will be nominated by the cabinet. With the consent of political parties concerned, the Election Commission will declare persons elected under the proportional representation system CA members.

As per Clause 7 (3) of the bill, the parties must ensure proportional representation of women, Dalit, disadvantaged groups and indigenous ethnic minorities, backward region, Madhesis while preparing the closed-list. The bill has also ensured 50 per cent of women’s representation in the CA.