| Paagal |
Posted
on 05-May-04 02:56 PM
Restore democratic process: Donors
Kathmandu Post Report May 5 issue...
KATHMANDU, May 4 - A group of ten donors today demanded immediate restoration of the democratic process, promotion and protection of human rights and initiative to end the ongoing armed-conflict.
In a joint statement handed over to the government the donors said, " For us, to integrate our development assistance and align our support with the PRSP (poverty reduction strategy paper), the democratic process needs to be reactivated beginning with a representative government and a prime minister enjoying the confidence of the political parties and the king." The statement further said, " Representative democratic institutions and people’s participation at central and local level are key elements of the development partnership."
Canada, Denmark, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom jointly issued the release.
" The ongoing armed conflict stands in the way of genuine and sustainable economic and social development," said the statement. Calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, the statement said,
"An immediate cease-fire accompanied by a code of conduct and effective independent monitoring is required." The statement also said that elections should take place before elections. On the issue of human rights, the statement said, " Human rights are the pillar on which inclusive, open and democratic societies are built. In a climate of impunity without enforced respect for human rights neither freedom nor development can flourish. "
The donors have also requested both the government and the Maoists to allow unhindered monitoring with international support as an early confidence building measure.
The donor community also held a meeting with the political parties today and discussed the current political situation. Almost all major donors including the United States, Japan and India were present in the meeting. The major political parties, which have already decided to boycott the NDF meeting and had requested the donors to postpone it, told the donor community that there was no meaning holding the NDF meeting at this moment. "We told donors that there is no pint in having the NDF meet while an illegitimate government sits in Singhdurbar," said Dr Ram Saran Mahat, former Finance Minister and Nepali Congress leader.
"Though the donor community had a consensus on the issue of having a representative government to address the current stalemate, they were also critical of the past behaviors of the political parties," said a participant of the meeting.
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