Monitoring Election Campaign

Freedom Forum has been seriously concerned over the spate of attacks targeting election
candidates, media persons and peaceful rallies and programs across the country.

With the elections to the House of Representatives and Provincial parliament slated for
November 26 in the Himalayan and upper hilly districts and on December 7 in southern plains
and the country in full swing for its conduct, series of attacks on election candidates have not
only increased security threat, but also violated freedom of expression and speech.

The peaceful assemblies and rallies where people are expressing their views must not be
hindered at all.

The news of bomb blasts targeting election candidates and peaceful gatherings are rife in media
for a week. Once people’s movement and peaceful campaigning are obstructed, the chance of
freedom of expression is hindered and even free flow of information blocked.

To this, Executive Chief at Freedom Forum, Mr Taranath Dahal, observed: “With the continued
bomb explosions in different places, the atmosphere for the election candidates and general
people to exercise their right to freedom of expression is foiled. FoE is prerequisite to
competitive election and essential for people to make informed choice. The attacks have created
fear even among journalists to make field reporting on election. Such acts by any side must end
to protect citizens’ freedom of expression and voting rights.”

Freedom Forum condemns the incidents and strongly urges concerned authorities to ensure fear-
free atmosphere where voters, election candidates and media persons can use their rights
unhindered.

B) Freedom Forum condemns attacks on peaceful election campaign, election candidates, and
arrest of journalists
Freedom Forum vehemently condemns the series of attacks on peaceful election campaigning in
different parts of the country.

As Nepal is all set to holding the second round of the elections to the House of Representatives
and Provincial parliament in 45 districts two days later (on December 7), the attacks on election
candidates has not only worried political parties and candidates but also badly panicked voters
and raised security threat to journalists.

The fatal injuries on the election campaigners and candidates with bomb blasts have grown
severe concern from various sides.

Former minister, a youth leader and constituency no 4 election candidate to the House of
Representatives from Kathmandu, Gagan Thapa, was attacked during his door-to-door election
campaign at Chapali, Kathmandu, on December 4. Thapa received minor injuries while his two
supporters are said to be in critical condition.

Similarly, election candidate in Udayapur, a district in southern plains, Narayan Karki, and his
supporter Ms Meera Katuwal sustained severe injuries as the vehicle they were riding was
exploded by an ambush a week back. Katuwal had to get her leg amputated, while leader Karki
had both his legs fractured.

Eight Journalists arrested:

FF has also come to know that eight journalists were arrested by security persons from different
districts across the country for their alleged ‘role of anti-election activities’.

The fellow journalists close to the arrested ones claimed they were held without sufficient
ground.
FF is investigating into the arrests.

Such incidents come at a time when the people are exercising the most democratic practice of
selecting their representatives through secret ballot are the sheer violation of their rights.

Similarly, with the series of bombing and detonation of IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices),
the atmosphere for free reporting is at the receiving end.

To this, FF Executive Chief, Mr Taranath Dahal, observes: “Peaceful atmosphere is pre-requisite

for voters to exercise their rights in a fear-free atmosphere. Also, peaceful atmosphere is required
for free and fair reporting. But, the series of blasts targeting peaceful election campaign have put
voters, candidates and journalists to risk. So, in order to protect and promote people’s right to
freedom of expression, and right to vote, and journalists’ right to free reporting, peace must be
ensured, otherwise it would erode democratic values.”

FF therefore strongly urges the government, political parties, security agencies and other
stakeholders to play their roles to create conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.