Kathmandu: Clearly, the Europeans are not very happy with the present situation in Nepal. Sir Jeffrey James, the special British envoy at a press briefing last week at the British Embassy premises expressed his concerns over the continuing constitutional deadlock, deteriorating human rights situation and the state of democracy in Nepal.

On election issue the British Envoy said, elections require the participation of all democratic parties and a climate free of fear, intimidation and violence. In the same vein Sir james also reiterates the need to hold the elections as, according to him, “the absence of representative institutions, at national and local level, will continue to erode the principles and practice of parliamentary democracy”.

With these double-meaning expressions, it becomes pretty unclear whether Sir James is in favor of the elections or is completely rejecting the idea of the same.

Sir Jeffery could be right in saying so as the parties are all set to wage a fresh round of agitation against what they call regression and the prevalence of the ever deteriorating security situation in the country does hint the possibility of having general elections a remote affair if not impossible one.

As usual, the Government appears not to take James concerns very seriously which amply hints that his visit this time too would not cut much of the ice vis-à-vis the government’s stance on elections.

This clearly means P.M Surya Bahadur Thapa, any time from now would set the exact dates for the elections as King Gyanendra has made it clear that elections would be held within the next year of the Nepali calendar.

This he would do to the utter dismay and chagrin of the international community who albeit favor the elections but say that the time was not favorable to hold elections.

Understandably, ignoring international concerns could prove to be a big disaster for the already economically devastated nation, say political analysts.

Question now arises as to whether the government will go in for the elections or will listen to the suggestions of the donor community who prefer belated elections when peace is restored in the country.