The government of Japan has dubbed the municipal election held on Wednesday “without a broad support of the people” as deplorable, condemning the violence and arrests on the election day.

“Japan deplores that the municipal election in the Kingdom of Nepal was held without a broad support of the people of Nepal. Japan also regrets that many persons concerned with political parties were arrested in the process,” a statement issued by the Press Secretary/Director General for Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, said on Thursday.

“Japan strongly condemns the acts of violence including the killing of civilians,” it said. “What Nepal now needs is for the government and the political parties to reach out to one another with the spirit of reconciliation.”

Expecting that positive steps would be taken soon for reconciliation, Japan reiterated its call to the Maoists to halt the acts of violence and opt for dialogue to achieve peace.

The Japanese reaction comes soon after the completion of the municipal election in 36 municipalities in 28 districts amidst armed clash between the security forces and the Maoists and angry protests by the seven agitating political parties. Voters’ turnout was less than 21 percent although the government has claimed that the voting completed successfully.

Hundreds of opposition activists were arrested while one CPN (UML) cadre was shot dead during an anti-rally demonstration in Dang.