US embassy cable - 02KATHMANDU1348

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KATHMANDU 001348 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SA/INS, SA/PD AND DRL 
 
DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS USAID FOR ANE/SA AND ANE/RA 
 
E.O. 12958:    N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, EAID, PREL, NP, Government of Nepal (GON) 
SUBJECT: NEPAL'S ELECTION COMMISSION REQUESTS DONOR 
ASSISTANCE 
 
REF:  KATHMANDU 1285 
 
1.  (U)  This is an action message.  Please see Para 13. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2.  (SBU) Summary:  Despite growing concern that security 
considerations and other factors may force the cancellation 
of national elections planned for November 13 (reftel), the 
Government of Nepal (GON) is, ostensibly at least, 
proceeding with preparations.  On July 5 the Election 
Commission presented donors with a lengthy wish list that 
includes even the most basic equipment--a strong indication 
that the GON is unprepared to meet most of the costs of 
holding the polls.  The Embassy believes that the USG should 
support GON efforts to hold free and fair elections by 
committing to supply some of the requested items that we are 
best positioned to provide--such as voter education and 
Internet assistance.  Department is requested to advise how 
the U.S. Mission may indicate its support in advance of a 
July 16 donor meeting on this topic.  End summary. 
 
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INK AND INTERNET:  EC LISTS MULTIPLE NEEDS 
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3.  (SBU)  Reftel detailed growing concern among a wide 
range of observers that the November 13 national elections 
may be cancelled for a number of reasons, including security 
and a pending Supreme Court decision on their 
constitutionality.  So far, no decision has been made on 
proposals to hold the elections in two or more discrete 
phases.  Nonetheless, the Government of Nepal (GON) is 
plowing ahead with initial preparations--e.g., an appeal to 
the donor community to supply most of the nuts and bolts 
needed to hold the elections.  (Note:  The FY 03 budget 
announced July 8 allocates approximately USD 7 million in 
funding for the Election Commission, a 54.4 percent increase 
over last year.)  In addition, the Election Commission (EC) 
is reportedly consulting with the political parties on the 
number and location of polling places, and a committee is 
working to update the constituencies to reflect the latest 
national census figures. 
 
4.  (U)  On July 5 the three-member EC convened a meeting of 
the donor community to present a lengthy wish list of basic 
needs.  A synopsis of the list, with costs estimated by the 
EC, follows below: 
 
A) Six new photocopiers to copy voters' lists (est. cost for 
four copiers: USD 100,000); 
 
B) 40 telefax machines for use in district election offices 
(est. cost: USD 13,000); 
 
C)  6,500 ballot boxes (est. cost: USD 250,000); 
 
D)  Training for 7,000 polling officers (est. cost: USD 
307,500); 
 
E) Training for 205 Returning Officers (est. cost: USD 
32,000); 
 
F)  Voter education and awareness (est. cost: USD 128,000); 
 
G)  30 ml indelible ink for 7,000 polling centers (est. 
cost: USD 28,000); 
 
H)  Printing press for ballot papers (est. cost: USD 
32,000); 
 
I)  Uploading of electoral roll and vote count on Internet 
(est. cost: USD 41,000); 
 
J)  International election observers (cost not estimated); 
 
K)  Mobile satellite communications system for 19 districts 
with no telephone service (cost not estimated); 
 
L)  Media center (cost not estimated); and 
 
M)  Printing and distribution of Voter ID Cards in 13 
constituencies (cost not estimated). 
5.  (SBU)  None of the donors at the July 5 meeting 
committed to supplying any of the requested items.  Donors 
are meeting among themselves July 16 to discuss which, if 
any, of the requested items their governments may be able to 
provide.  The UNDP, which coordinated international election 
observers for the 1999 elections, was asked to once again 
play this role.  UNDP agreed, but reminded the government 
that it takes time to organize observers, implying that it 
is critical to set the date(s) well in advance, particularly 
if the election will be held in multiple phases.  (Note: 
the GON said that it will fix the dates "at least two months 
before the election."  End Note.)  The Danes, who have an 
ongoing program of technical assistance to the Election 
Commission, agreed to play a coordinating role among donors 
for financial support as it had in the last elections. 
 
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MILITARY PREPARATIONS 
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6.  (SBU)  The military, which will be working with the 
police to provide security for the elections, has cancelled 
all training from October to December.  Troops will begin 
deployment six weeks before the beginning of elections.  The 
Royal Nepal Army is planning to hold a briefing on its 
preparations to provide security for elections July 16. 
 
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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USG SUPPORT 
-------------------------------- 
 
7.  (SBU)  Despite our own reservations about whether the 
elections can be held as scheduled, the Embassy believes 
that the USG, as a matter of policy, should be forthcoming 
in its support for GON efforts to hold free and fair 
national elections.  The post Democracy Committee met on 
July 9 to review the EC's request, and noted four areas 
where we believe the U.S. Mission can be most helpful. 
 
8.  (SBU)  Voter Education and Awareness Raising.  USAID has 
funded, through the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a 
successful voter-education project that concludes in August. 
This program has produced voter education pamphlets; a 10- 
episode radio drama in ten languages which aired nationally; 
and election manuals for district-level officials and 
community/political leaders which have been used in training 
at district and constituency levels in selected districts. 
In our view, USAID's experience in this area, and the fact 
that USAID has been the only donor supporting voter 
education, makes voter education the most logical and cost- 
effective assistance we can offer.  We also believe that the 
needs for awareness raising and education are much greater 
than estimated by the EC. 
 
9.  (SBU)  Media Center at Election Commission:  Since most 
media centers--at least those for the international press 
pool--are self-funded, we do not recommend financial support 
for the establishment of such a center.  On the other hand, 
we do anticipate that the GON will need substantial 
technical assistance to plan such a center. The GON could 
capitalize on the expertise acquired in setting up the 
center, replicating it during future events of international 
interest.  We thus recommend that the Department fund a 
short-term consultant to work with the GON on devising a 
plan for the establishment, operation and funding of the 
center. 
 
10.  (SBU)  Internet Posting of Electoral Role and Vote 
Count:  We recommend funding the uploading of the electoral 
roll and the voters lists on the Internet.  Some of the 
funding for this initiative could come from reprogrammed FY 
02 ESF funds or from PD funds. 
 
11.  (SBU)  Electoral Observers:  The Election Commission 
requested all donors to provide observers for the election. 
Estimating the cost of providing such observers will be 
difficult until the Election Commission decides whether to 
hold the election in phases.  We should, however, be 
prepared to fund at least a modest contingent of observers 
for a minimum of 10 days each, as well as any required 
training.  The Asia Foundation has submitted an unsolicited 
proposal (forwarded by e-mail to SA/INS) for support for 
election observers. 
 
12.  (SBU)  Funding:  Mission understands that USAID's ANE 
Bureau may be prepared to provide USD 250,000 for election- 
related support.  This is welcomed.  For financial 
contributions beyond that amount, the Mission could 
reprogram some of the already requested USD 750,000 in 
Economic Support Funds (ESF) for FY 02 for other programs. 
 
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ACTION REQUEST 
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13.  (SBU) Action Request:  Embassy requests Department 
guidance in advance of the July 16 donors meeting on which 
of the items requested by the EC we may be prepared to 
support.  If the Department agrees that some of the items 
requested could be supported from reprogrammed FY 02 ESF 
funds, Department is requested to advise when such funds may 
become available. 
 
MALINOWSKI