Lot of homework to do before election can be held: Koirala daughter

New Delhi

14 February 2007

Nepal lawmaker Sujata Koirala has said that her country has "a lot of

homework to do" before constituent assembly election can be held, including instilling a

"fear-free atmosphere" so that people can vote freely and fairly.

"Fear-free atmosphere is still not there ... people are still scared so we have to make that

atmosphere so that people can go and vote peacefully," she told this newspaper. Ms

Koirala is in New Delhi on a private visit.

Ms Koirala is a member of parliament and the head of international relation department

of Nepali Congress party. She is the daughter of Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad

Koirala.

"Maoists are still carrying guns and running around Kathmandu ... their weapons have to

come into the container. The United Nations is monitoring arms management; first we

have to sort that problem as soon as possible," she said.

"We still have a lot of things to settle with different groups of people with dialogue, we

are still in the process of giving citizenship. There is a big citizenship propblem in Nepal

because only the citizens can vote.

"Then we have still not decided what kind of voting pattern will be ... proportionate, one

box or two box system ... some are demaiding for the country to be one constituency and

vote for the parties, not the persons.

"These are all kinds of electroal processes which we are still discussing ... which one is

the best for the country and how we should go, which would suit the best for Nepal," Ms

Koirala explained.

She reiterated that Nepal Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula must quit to save the

Nepali Congress party from embarrassment. The Madheshi Janadhikar Forum has said it

would not sit with the government for dialogue unless Sitaula resigned.

"Law and order is very weak and there is a demand from all groups of people ... people

are speaking in Parliament, I also spoke about the resignation of home minister. People

in Terai are especially insecure with this law and order situation.

Even in the big agitation only 19 people died in three and a half years and in one month

more than 30 people have died ... He should resign on moral grounds, otherwise it will

give a very bad impression on Nepali Congress," she said.