Nepal rejects election criticism

By Navin Singh Khadka
BBC News, Kathmandu

There was 20% turn-out for Wednesday's local elections

The Nepal government has rejected international criticism of Wednesday's controversial municipal elections.

Major donor countries such as the US, the UK, India and Japan had questioned the legitimacy and credibility of the polls.

Only 20% of voters turned out for the polls according to official estimates.

But opposition parties which boycotted the polls have argued the turnout was much less. Nepal's Maoist rebels called a strike to disrupt the election.

In a statement released in Kathmandu, the ministry of foreign affairs said foreign powers should refrain from making comments on issues like elections that it said were internal matters of a sovereign country.

The elections had been criticised by several countries with the US describing it as a "hollow attempt" to legitimise the power of King Gyanendra, who seized direct control of the country last year.

The US, the UK, India and Japan had commented that the elections were held without people's support and the participation of the major opposition parties.

They had also pointed out that leaders and cadres of the opposition parties were detained when the polls were held.

'Popular victory'

But the foreign ministry said that the government took the elections as a popular victory against what it called terror.

In a clear rejoinder to the criticism of major donor countries, the ministry argued that the voters had thwarted all attempts at constraining their fundamental democratic right.

The government said the detention of some politicians was necessary to maintain law and order and to provide a conducive environment for the polls.

It said there were no incidents of rigging, booth capturing and manipulation during polls.

"Is there a substitute to elections in a democracy?" the statement said.

Critics in the opposition parties, civil society and the international community have said that the polls without the participation of the major opposition parties and the majority of the people would not help in the restoration of democracy.

When he seized control after sacking an elected government a year ago, King Gyanendra had charged the opposition parties with being incapable of dealing with the Maoist insurgency.

Soon after, he announced dates for the municipal polls and also declared that parliamentary elections would be held next year.