News update from Nepal, 2 April 2008 News Update from Nepal 2 April 2008 Security Environment The regular clashes among the ruling parties continue to vitiate the environment for the Constituent Assembly(CA) election on April 10. On March 29, Premier G.P. Koirala feared that there would be a disaster in the nation if this situation continues. The same day the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist(CPN-UML), appreciating the role of the Nepal Army(NA) in protecting nationalism and national sover­eignty, threatened CPN(Maoist) not to dream of a Maoist takeover of state power. The CPN(Maoist) chairman Prachanda, fearing a deteriorating security situation, canceled his CA related tours in Chitwan and Butwal. He said that top Maoist leaders may be the target of an assassination attempt by"the external and internal forces" and warned that he would launch a peaceful, urban-centered people's war if his party lost. He added,"I am not confi­dent the CA election will be held on the stipulated date." On March 31, in a meeting leaders of three parties- NC, CPN-UML and CPN(Maoist)- signed a 10-point deal to assure civil society members that they will instruct their party members to create a favorable climate for the elections. On March 24, the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) said,"A free and fair elec­tion is not possible if the security situation does not improve." The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights(OHCHR) added,"Law enforcement agencies have a special role to play in ensuring the creation of a climate for elections that are free of fear and intimidation." Reacting to the threat of numerous armed actors in Tarai to disrupt CA elections, head of United Nations Mission in Nepal(UNMIN), Ian Martin, stated,"The inter­national community will have no sympathy with any group which carries out acts of violence in pursuit of its grievances or in attempts to disrupt the electoral process." On March 22, the UN report revealed,"There has been an upsurge of killings, violence and intimidation against candidates and voters in the past two weeks in the Tarai region due to marked dis­trust and hostility among political parties." It also suggested the government to initiate a dia­logue with the armed groups for political accommodation. The Election Commission(EC) made all the technical preparations for the election and has asked the government to ensure an effective security in some districts of Tarai region and political parties to control their cadres, comply with the code of conduct, not to misuse gov­ernment resources in their campaign, stop terrorizing the people and improve relations be­tween them. The UNMIN, NC and CPN-UML have said that NA can be used in the election with the mutual consent of the ruling parties. Peace Process On March 1, the government and agitating Federal Republic National Front(FRF) signed a five-point deal on: a complete federal autonomous system of governance based on the his­torical background, language, geography, region and economic resources and viability of the Limbuwan, Khambuwan, Tamangsaling, Tharuhat, Madhesh federal states and nation­1