Keith Bloomfield

Keith Bloomfield (File Photo)
British ambassador to Nepal, Keith Bloomfield, said on Tuesday that the seven-party alliance had decided to boycott the municipal polls due to failure of the government to assure them ‘free and fair’ election, reports said.

Speaking at a programme in the capital on Tuesday he said, “Election is going to take place according to the government and election commission,” adding, “whether it can be credible or not remains to be seen.”

He expressed doubt that the election will resolve the constitutional crisis and resolve the Maoist problems. Bloomfield also asked the government to find a resolution to the conflict through peaceful dialogue. “Confidence building measures are urgent between parties and Maoist forces,” he added.

The government is holding municipal polls on February 8 despite the call from alliance of seven opposition political parties and the Maoist threat to disrupt it.

Envoy Bloomfield, who expressed dissatisfaction over the Maoist decision to withdraw from the four month long unilateral ceasefire, said, “The government is not ready to find consensus with the political parties despite repeated calls from European Union and other international communities.”

He described the 12-point agreement between Maoists and the alliance of seven opposition political parties as a right direction to resolve the problems dogging the country.

The Maoists and political parties reached to an understanding for the restoration of complete democracy in the country and to give a peaceful outlet to the Maoist insurgency.

Referring to the Indian envoy’s recent interview, Bloomfield said, “I was struck by the closeness of our analysis in our policy prescription by Shiv Shankar Mukherjee’s latest interview. I do not say pointedly, but we are very close.”

He also expressed his displeasure over the royal move. “We regard the Royal takeover as a step backward for democracy. We have repeatedly being saying this. There are not many positive signs after Feb 1,” he added.