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UN in
Nepal Slams
Boycott of
Election,
Silent on US
Disabilities
Treaty
By
Matthew
Russell Lee
UNITED
NATIONS,
November 7,
updated --
What is the
UN's position
on commenting
on
voting and
democratic
processes in
its member
states? Are
large and
smaller
countries
treated the
same?
On
Thursday Inner
City Press
asked
Secretary
General Ban
Ki-moon's
acting deputy
spokesperson
Farhan Haq
about Nepal,
and comments
by
Jamie
McGoldrick,
the UN's
resident
coordinator in
Kathmandu,
against a
CPN-M planned
general strike
before
November 19
elections.
Haq
said he had
nothing to add
to
McGoldrick's
comments,
after Inner
City
Press asked if
the UN
believes that
people have
the right to
boycott
elections, or
go on strike
before them.
Moments
later,
Inner City
Press asked
Haq if Ban or
the UN have
any comment
on
consideration
of the UN
Convention on
the Rights of
People with
Disabilities
in the US
Senate. Haq
said that the
UN doesn't
comment
on things that
are pending.
But
how about the
elections in
Nepal? Why
comment there,
and not in the
US? Is it
because there
is a UN
resident
coordinator in
Nepal? Is
there one in
the US?
Footnote:
Meanwhile
Ban Ki-moon
sent
congratulations
to New York
City's mayor
elect Bill de
Blasio, and
invited him to
visit the UN.
The Free
UN
Coalition for
Access has
asked, and
will continue
to, what de
Blasio's
position is on
the UN taking
over the
Robert Moses
Playground on
42nd Street
and First
Avenue. Watch
this site.
Update:
after
publication of
the above, the
UN sent this:
Subject:
Your
question at
noon on Nepal
From: UN
Spokesperson -
Do Not
Reply [at]
un.org
Date: Thu, Nov
7, 2013 at
2:14 PM
To:
Matthew.Lee
[at]
innercitypress.com
Regarding
your
question on
the press
release issued
in Nepal
yesterday by
the
Resident
Coordinator,
please note
the following
passage in
bold from
the press
release
itself:
Statement
by
UN Resident
Coordinator on
behalf of the
International
Community
in Nepal
KATHMANDU,
6
November 2013
--- With only
13 days until
the election
on 19
November, we
applaud the
efforts of all
stakeholders,
including the
interim
government,
the Election
Commission,
the political
parties
and the media,
to make this
process a
success.
Especially we
commend
the role of
thousands of
candidates who
are conducting
their election
campaigns
abiding by the
Election Code
of Conduct.
Many
politicians
and their
supporters are
campaigning
peacefully and
lawfully
despite
unacceptable
threats and
disruptions.
The
international
community
supports the
men and women
of Nepal in
their
right to
express their
views in
peace, either
as candidates
or
voters.
Everyone
should
respect the
democratic
right to take
part in a
peaceful, open
and inclusive
election.
Bandhs or
strikes, when
enforced by
violence
or the threat
of violence,
are a
violation of
the political
rights of
citizens and
against the
laws of Nepal.
Preventing
peaceful
campaigning by
others is also
unlawful.
Parties who
have been
involved in
such actions
should respect
the universal
principle of
free elections
and the rights
of others.
We
are encouraged
by the
resolve, but
also the
restraint
shown so far
by
the police,
security
forces and the
Home Ministry,
in providing
election
security with
professionalism
in the face of
provocation
during this
sensitive
period.
And
on the
disabilities
treaty in the
US?
* * *
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