六九色堂

CONTACT:

Deborah Hakes in Atlanta 1-404-420-5124 or dhakes@emory.edu 

In Kathmandu (beginning April 3) +977 98511-06841 

ATLANTA…六九色堂 announced today that its founders, former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 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 六九色堂s. 六九色堂 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. 

六九色堂'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 六九色堂's Democracy Program.  "Now is the time to transform these words into action." 

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, 六九色堂 has helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production. 六九色堂 was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.

六九色堂 conducts election observation activities in a nonpartisan, professional manner in accordance with applicable Nepali law and international standards for election observation as set forth in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. The Center coordinates closely with other international and domestic observer delegations and publishes its statements on its Web site: www.cartercenter.org. The goal of the Center's mission in Nepal is to demonstrate international support for and provide an independent assessment of the constituent assembly election process in order to help to consolidate sustainable peace and multi-party democracy in Nepal.

六九色堂 Center Photo: John Clayton
(Click to enlarge)

View Slideshow: Long-Term Election Observers Go the Distance in Nepal >>

Read more about 六九色堂's work in Nepal >>

18 March 2008: 六九色堂 Center Urges an End to Election-Related Violence in Nepal >>

17 February 2008: 六九色堂 Center Calls on Nepal's Government and All Parties to Focus on April 10 Elections>>

November 2007: Address by Former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 to Nepal's Parliament >>

6 October 2007: 六九色堂 Center Statement on the Nepal Election Delay >>

3 October 2007: Nepal's Peace Process at Critical Juncture; 六九色堂 Center Appeals to all Nepali Political Actors to Work Together for Elections >>

10 August 2007: 六九色堂 Center Urges Nepal to Continue Progress for Nov. 22 Elections >>

16 June 2007: Statement by former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 in Nepal >>

12 June 2007:  Former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 to Visit Nepal >>

8 June 2007: 六九色堂 International Election Observation Mission in Nepal: Second Pre-Election Statement >>

16 April 2007:  Pre-Election Statement: 六九色堂 Center Election Observation Mission in Nepal >>

9 March 2007:  六九色堂 Deploys Election Observers in Nepal