KATHMANDU, June 27: The United States and the United Kingdom (UK) have urged all stakeholders to work to create favorable environment for the people of provinces 1, 5 and 7 to peacefully exercise their democratic rights during the upcoming local elections.
Issuing separate press statements on Monday, both the countries have urged all parties to mutually respect the freedom of non-violent expression. They have also requested the security forces to exercise restraint and comply with existing national and international standards while carrying out their duties.
The US said it recognizes the efforts of all stakeholders including the government, the Election Commission, civil society, political parties and citizens to conduct a free, fair and transparent second round of local elections in Nepal.
“We urge all stakeholders to work to create necessary conditions to ensure that the people of provinces 1, 5, and 7 are given the opportunity to peacefully exercise their democratic right to elect local representatives during the second phase of local elections scheduled for June 28,” the US embassy said in the statement.
While also calling on the security forces to exercise restraint and comply with existing national and international standards while carrying out their duties, the US has asked all parties to respect the freedom of non-violent expression and assembly and individual voter's rights as laid out in Nepal's laws and constitution.
Separately, the UK also urged all stakeholders to create conducive environment to allow the people of provinces 1, 5 and 7 to exercise their right to vote peacefully in the second round of local elections on Wednesday.
“We urge the security forces to exercise restraint and comply with existing national international standards,” said the UK statement.
The UK has also urged all parties concerned in Nepal to keep up their efforts to create favorable condition for peaceful, inclusive, broadly-supported and credible local elections in Province 2 to complete the local election process.
US calls for free, fair and transparent polls in Nepal
