Jimmy Carter to Lead Delegation to Observe Nepal's April 10 Elections

01 April 2008 -- ATLANTA -- The Carter Center announced today that its founders, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will lead the Center's international election observation delegation to Nepal. Dr. Surakiart Sathirathai, former deputy prime minister of Thailand, will co-lead the delegation with the Carters. The Carter Center mission will also include more than 60 observers representing more than 20 different nations deployed throughout the country.

The leaders are expected to arrive in Kathmandu on April 7, 2008. They plan to meet with the election commission, political party leaders, representatives of domestic and international election observation delegations, and others, and will monitor the polls on election day, the counting process, and handling of challenges.

The Carter Center's international election observation mission has been present throughout Nepal's entire electoral process, having established its field office and deployed long-term observers in March 2007.

The Center has been concerned by the recent escalation in electoral violence and clashes and by the widespread reports of threats and intimidation, particularly by the CPN-Maoist party. The Center notes that all parties stand to gain significant domestic and international credibility by conducting a successful election on April 10 and encourages all parties to intensify peaceful campaigning efforts.

"I am encouraged to see that the top leadership of the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN-Maoist have publicly renewed their commitment to a peaceful electoral process," said David Pottie, associate director of the Carter Center's Democracy Program. "Now is the time to transform these words into action."

Source: Carter Center