Neena Gill MEP is currently in Nepal observing the elections as a key member of the European Union's election monitoring group. She is deeply concerned that the escalation of violence will disrupt Nepal's first election in 9 years.
Yesterday, activists of the Communist Party Nepal-Maoist (CPN-Maoist) were killed by security forces. Rishi Prasad Sharma, A CPN-Unified Marxist-Leninist candidate also lost his life after clashes with a Nepalese Congress (NC) party candidate were forcefully stopped by police. In a statement, the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) urged that the deaths be investigated, that any security personnel who are under suspicion be immediately suspended, and that all sides show restraint.
Speaking from the Terai region where the killings took place, Neena Gill MEP said: "It is absolutely imperative that this process is conducted peacefully and that all parties accept the result if the observers deem the elections to be free and fair. Militants must lay down their weapons for good. From now on, power in Nepal must come from the ballot box, not from bombs or bullets."
Neena Gill MEP continued: "This is a unique opportunity for the Nepalese people to set out for themselves the terms by which they are governed. But these elections must take place in a peaceful environment. I am deeply saddened that lives have already been lost. This killing must stop immediately - voters must be free from intimidation and confident of their safety in participating."
The European Parliament has taken an active interest in events in Nepal over the last 10 years, and in 2005 gave wholehearted support to the Lokantra Andolan (the People's Movement for Democracy) which challenged a coup by King Gyanendra.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Neena Gill MEP will be in the Terai region from April 9th. She can be contacted for interviews on her UK mobile, +44 7714 234924, or at the Hotel Sneha, Nepalganj - Tel: +00 977 81 520119 / 520487; Fax: + 00 977 81 522573.
2. Neena Gill is the Labour MEP for the West Midlands, former President of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with South Asia and current President of the EP's Delegation for Relations with India.
3. The UNMIN statement on the recent violence in Nepal is available here: http://www.unmin.org.np/downloads/pressreleases/2008-04-09-UNMIN.SRSG.Press.Statement.ENG.pdf
For more information please call the European Parliamentary Labour Party press officer, Silke Thomson on +32 479 790 053.
European Parliamentary Labour Party, European Parliament, Rue Wiertz, 1047 BRUSSELS, Belgium -
Tel: 00 32 2 28 43736
