BMS World Mission gave a cautious welcome to a statement issued by the government of Nepal promising to hold parliamentary elections by 2007.
The statement by the Nepalese government comes after a recent announcement that municipal elections would be held in February 2006.Liz Russell, BMS Regional Secretary for Asia, said: “We were encouraged to hear that His Majesty King Gyanendra is planning to hold elections but we wait to see whether they will indeed assure a return to constitutional democracy and thus, possibly, a step towards a more stable and peaceful political situation.”
Ms. Russell added: “In the current state of turmoil in the kingdom, the latter seems highly unlikely.”
The announcement of elections has been reportedly followed by a crackdown by the Nepalese government on press and media in the country.
According to BBC reports, members of the press could be sentenced up to two years in prison and lose the right to practise journalism if they criticise King Gyanendra.
“The news of a further media crackdown is disturbing and BMS would ask British Christians to pray for Nepal,” said Ms. Russell.
BMS currently has 18 long-term personnel, seven volunteers and six supported partner workers in Nepal, a country paralysed by a nine-year long civil war between Maoist insurgents and government forces that has left 11,000 people dead.
The government’s announcement to hold elections follows a statement by an EU delegation earlier in the month that described Nepal as being on the brink of political collapse.
