UN 'deeply concerned' at Bangladesh poll crisis
Dhaka, January 12, 2007 : The United Nations yesterday suspended assistance with Bangladesh's controversial upcoming national election, saying an opposition boycott had left the polls "severely jeopardised".
"The United Nations is deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in the country and urges all parties to refrain from the use of violence," a statement from the world body said.
"The political crisis in Bangladesh has severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process. The United Nations is concerned that Bangladesh's democratic advances and international standing will be affected if the current crisis continues," it added.
Bangladesh is due to go to the polls on January 22 despite a boycott by an alliance led by the main opposition Awami League.
The polls are being organised by an interim government which took power at the end of October and which the opposition claims is biased.
The UN has suspended "all technical support to the electoral process, including closing its international coordination office for election observers in Dhaka".
The statement also expressed regret at the suspension last Wednesday of plans by two Washington-based organisations, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, to observe the election.
"The cancellation of numerous international observation missions is regrettable," it added. The opposition has accused the outgoing government of trying to rig the elections by appointing biased officials to an election commission which it alleges drew up a voter list with 14 million fake names.
It has staged dozens of national strikes and blockades which have repeatedly brought the country to a standstill and cost businesses in the impoverished country millions of dollars.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also expressed concern over the boycott, as international pressure to resolve the political crisis grows.
"I have noted with concern the decision by some of the major parties to boycott the elections. I regret the lack of flexibility which has brought this about," she said yesterday.
"I call on the caretaker government and election commission to create the right atmosphere which will make all parties feel able to participate."
Dhaka, January 12, 2007 : The United Nations yesterday suspended assistance with Bangladesh's controversial upcoming national election, saying an opposition boycott had left the polls "severely jeopardised".
"The United Nations is deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in the country and urges all parties to refrain from the use of violence," a statement from the world body said.
"The political crisis in Bangladesh has severely jeopardised the legitimacy of the electoral process. The United Nations is concerned that Bangladesh's democratic advances and international standing will be affected if the current crisis continues," it added.
Bangladesh is due to go to the polls on January 22 despite a boycott by an alliance led by the main opposition Awami League.
The polls are being organised by an interim government which took power at the end of October and which the opposition claims is biased.
The UN has suspended "all technical support to the electoral process, including closing its international coordination office for election observers in Dhaka".
The statement also expressed regret at the suspension last Wednesday of plans by two Washington-based organisations, the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute, to observe the election.
"The cancellation of numerous international observation missions is regrettable," it added. The opposition has accused the outgoing government of trying to rig the elections by appointing biased officials to an election commission which it alleges drew up a voter list with 14 million fake names.
It has staged dozens of national strikes and blockades which have repeatedly brought the country to a standstill and cost businesses in the impoverished country millions of dollars.
Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also expressed concern over the boycott, as international pressure to resolve the political crisis grows.
"I have noted with concern the decision by some of the major parties to boycott the elections. I regret the lack of flexibility which has brought this about," she said yesterday.
"I call on the caretaker government and election commission to create the right atmosphere which will make all parties feel able to participate."
posted by Ven. Pragya Jyoti at 4:56 AM
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