Maoist party in Nepal against UN 'interference'

Nepal's opposition party Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), which is boycotting the Nov 19 Constituent Assembly elections in the country, has urged the UN not to interfere in the domestic political affairs of Nepal, the party said Thursday.

In a strongly worded statement issued by the party's vice-chairman, C.P. Gajurel, who also heads the party's international bureau, the opposition urged the UN not to give undiplomatic statements on Nepal's internal affairs, Xinhua reported.

UN Resident Coordinator for Nepal Jamie McGoldrick on behalf of the international community Wednesday urged the CPN-M to respect the universal principle of free elections and not to engage in any illegal acts such as general strike.

The CPN-M said it is a democratic and political right of the people either to boycott or take part in elections.

"In the UN statement, boycotting parties have been projected as undemocratic. It is a right of citizen either to boycott or participate in the polls. So the statement is itself (an) undemocratic one," Gajurel said in the statement.

The party added that the UN's statement is a glaring example of increasing foreign interference in Nepal.

The CPN-M has announced an 11-day strike ahead of the Nov 19 elections to disrupt the election.