Election Commission govt. one more week for election, PM terai leaders hold talks

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 15 Feb: Election Commission has given government one more week to resolve problems with a three-party front in the terai bordering India for the 10 April vote.
The extension of a first three-day ultimatum first issued by Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel expired Wednesday.
“We are hopeful the problems related to terai will be solved within a week,” commissioner Nil Kantha Uperti said in Bitratnagar Thursday issuing the second ultimatum.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Giija Prasad Koirala held discussions with leaders of the three-party terai front Mahanta Thakur and Rajendra Mahoto one day after a government dialogue team extended formal invitation for talks on a six-point demand including self-determination and provincial rule.
The talks were also held with 12 hours after visiting Congress (U) delegation of Sonia Gandhi’s party returned home saying it was ready to mediate between government and terai leaders.
Delegation leader Digbijaya Singh said the vote must be held 10 April amid interest shown by Mahmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi.
Singh said India was ready to render assistance as well.
Singh issued a veiled threat saying Nepal will suffer if the vote, postponed twice, wasn’t held.
“The election must be held, otherwise, the Nepali people will suffer a heavy loss,” Singh said before departure.
Singh quoted Koirala as saying the prime minister was against UN mediation called by some terai leaders.
Without directly saying people in Madesha are exploited, he attributed the perception of Nepali political leaders.
The people in the terai have always had the same civil and political liberties enjoyed by other communities in the country; they have enjoyed the benefits of development more than hill people.
People form the terai dominate the judicial and teaching services.
Violent forced strike of a three-party Madesh front continued for the third day Friday.
Prohibitory orders were enforced in Bhairahawa as more than to dozen policemen and demonstrators were injure in clashes.
An election office was bombed in Nepalgunj.
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