Nepali Congress slams EU EOM report as ‘objectionable’

KATHMANDU, March 26: The main opposition party, Nepali Congress Monday slammed the European Union Election Observation Mission in Nepal poll observation report as ‘objectionable’.

NC said that the EU EOM went beyond its jurisdiction to censure the constitution of Nepal and urged the EU to carry out its activities in Nepal remaining in its limits.

“The EU EOM was here to observe the November 26 and December 7 polls. But their report appear to have dealt with the issues related to the constitution of Nepal, which is beyond the mission’s field,” NC Spokesperson Bishwoprakash Sharma told reporters after the party’s central working committee meeting.

The EU EOM last week prepared its final poll observation report, in which it opposed the quota system for Khas-Arya while recommending impact of the quota system on the ethnic composition of the House of Representatives and Province Assemblies and ensuring that measures of affirmative action apply only to groups that are the subject of negative discrimination.

But the EU EOM’s report drew a wide criticism from various quarters including the Election Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister.

The EC said that the report was “misleading”, “baseless” and “in contravention of the international poll observation code of conduct.”

The MoFA condemned the report stating that the recommendations and comments made by the EU EOM are a direct challenge to the provisions of the Constitution of Nepal which was promulgated, in line with the inclusive policy reflective of Nepali social structure, by the sovereign decision of Nepali people.

Prime Minster K P Sharma Oli said that the report directly undermined Nepal’s sovereignty and constitution and urged the EU EOM to revise its report.

However, the EU EOM has claimed that it prepared the report on fully abided by its terms of reference and the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the authorities of Nepal. It has maintained that the report is based on international and regional commitments for democratic elections and the suggested recommendations were widely consulted and discussed.