Kathmandu, April 1, 2008

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML leader Madhav Kumar Nepal and CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda have expressed firm commitment to hold the upcoming Constituent Assembly polls in a free, fair and impartial manner through a joint statement issued here today.

The leaders’ trio had held rounds of discussion regarding the issues of peaceful CA polls before agreeing to issue a joint statement.

Increased incidents of poll-related violence between the major political parties and the subsequent public outcry largely against the Maoists prompted the leaders to issue a joint commitment to ensure a peaceful and impartial CA election.

“Expressing our firm commitment to hold the CA polls in a free and impartial manner, we appeal to all political parties, candidates, civil society, professionals and the citizens to help conduct the polls successfully,” the leaders’ trio stated in the statement.

The leaders have urged all not to disrupt others’ poll campaigns, use inflammatory speeches and intimidate the voters or use violence against the voters. “Nobody will create obstruction against any party, candidates, their supporters and well-wishers, the administration will prosecute those who commit such wrongdoings,” the statement warned.

The leaders have also committed to fully abide by the election code of conduct and extend all their co-operation to implement those provisions.

The major partners of the SPA also committed not to allow anybody to carry any kind ofweapons, incite and terrorise people.

Fake divorces on the rise in City

Kathmandu, April 1, 2008

Sabitri (name changed) is living with her legally ex-husband Ramesh Risal in Nayabazaar even after they divorced two years ago. The Kathmandu District Court (KDC) granted them divorce after Sabitri approached the court for it.

However, she still lives with Ramesh because their divorce was just a farce devised to evade some legal tangle involving Ramesh’s property. “We have received information about such fake divorces but we can do nothing in this matter,” KDC registrar Krishna Ram Koirala told this daily, adding, “This is their personal matter and court cannot intervene in it.” He said Ramesh’s case was just an example.

“Actually there are many couples who are living together even after getting divorce from the courts,” Koirala added.

He said such couples use the divorce certificates for some other purposes. “Some couples seek divorce in order to enjoy the facilities a single person could avail, while the others do it to avoid possible legal problems, mostly to hide property or to achieve some benefits,” he added.

Data available at the KDC show that around three couples approach the court every dayseeking divorce. During the last 14 office days from March 14 to 30, 35 divorce cases were lodged in the court.