The ‘COVID-19 Prevention and Control Coordination Committee’ meeting led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishwor Pokharel has come up with this strict measure.

The lockdown includes

• People should stay at homes, allowed out only in case of emergency
• Suspension of public and private transportation
• Ban of all domestic commercial flights
• Offices should grant a leave except for the most essential services like health, security, food, water, milk, electricity, telecommunication, information and communication, customs, quarantine and garbage management
• Businesses should manage ways to supply drugs and drugs-related material
• People involved in hording goods, creating artificial shortage, black marketing and obstructing goods will be punished as per the law

However, government offices and transportation services pertaining to food and essential goods will work as usual.

According to the Minister Pokharel, people not following the lockdown rules will face stringent action as per the Infectious Disease Act, 2020 BS.

Under the Act, the rule-breakers will be clobbered with NPR 100 fine or 1-month jail or both.

Meanwhile, President Bidya Devi Bhandari has pledged to contribute her two months’ salary for the ‘Coronavirus Infection Prevention, Control and Treatment Fund’ initiated by Nepali Government.

Likewise, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has also pledged to donate his one month’s salary for the Fund.

Earlier on March 23, 2020, a Nepali student with a travel history to France and Qatar had tested positive for the COVID-19 disease.

So far, Nepal has reported only two coronavirus cases. However, the first case has already recovered and discharged.

As of today, the coronavirus has infected 381,653 people and claimed 16,558 lives across 195 countries.

COVID19 News

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• Asia to Lose USD 115 Billion Tourism Revenue
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• Nepal – A Coronavirus Free Zone
• COVID-19 Impacts Nepal’s Inflation Rate
• Coronavirus Nepal: Overview, Symptoms, Precautions and Live Updates

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The US Indo-Pacific Commander is on a visit to meet Nepal senior leadership and Nepal Army Chief Purna Chandra Thapa.

Post Davidson’s arrival, he met and held discussions with Thapa at the Nepal Army headquarters.

According to Nepal Amy Spokesperson Yam Prasad Dhakal, the meeting was a continuation of courtesy call for enhancing relations between Nepal and USA.

During the course of his visit, the US Indo-Pacific Commander Chief will also be meeting Nepal Prime Minister KP Oli Sharma, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokharel.

“The meeting will take place today [January 11, 2019] morning. We are not briefed about the agenda items to be discussed at the meeting. They may disclose the agenda at the meeting itself,” said Nepal Defense Ministry Spokesperson Baburam Gautam.

Besides meetings with Nepal senior leaders, the US commander will also visit Birendra Peace Operations Training Center at Panchkhal.

Earlier, on Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali’s visit to US, he sought USA’s support in upgrading the Panchkhal training center.

Amid other military discussions at the US-Nepal bilateral meeting, the two leaders also discussed the resolving of legal hurdles to procure over 6,000 M-16 from the US Government.

Nepal’s procurement law recommends that the payments are made on installment basis but US is asking for payment for the purchase in a lump sum.

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The recommendation directs the government to not add any more schools in the country. Furthermore, it demands that the government enhance existing institutions to provision free and mandatory education in accordance with the constitution.

Citing the aforementioned reasons, NCE Network Chair Kumar Bhattarai handed over a draft to the High-level National Education Commission Chair and Nepal Minister for Education, Science & Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel.

Additionally, it also requested the government to come-up with a policy that aims at gradually diminishing private investment in school education.

The National Campaign for Education (NCE) is a network of civil society organizations dedicated to enabling right to education and child rights.

Nepal Government to Preserve Old Schools
In another scenario, Nepal Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Ishwor Pokharel has assured that the Nepal Government will protect old schools.

On the occasion of Shivapuri Secondary School’s 70^th Anniversary in Mahargunj, DPM Pokharel said that the old schools are historical heritages because of which they will be protected.

Following are the Government plans discussed by Pokharel at the event:

• Being actively involved in the betterment of the education sector, the government seeks to address the respective sector’s concerns by increasing investments in community schools
• Centralizing focus on production of capable human resources to build a strong national economy

Pokharel also adds that education is significant to Nepal Government’s campaign ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis’ for the country’s economic development.

Hope that these initiatives manage to tap the right resources and maintain Nepal’s heritage while trying to impart quality education to Nepalis.

Related Education Article:

• Study Loan In Nepal

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High-ranking military officials met at the 11^th Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (APICC) to share mutual beneficial interests and military intelligence information.

According to the Nepal Directorate of Public Relations and Information (DPR&I) at the Nepal Army Headquarters Bhadrakali, the officials interacted and agreed to share expertise and skills to counter potential security threats faced by any of the member countries.

The three-day conference that concluded on September 6, 2018 witnessed the participation of military officials from Nepal, Bangladesh, Brunei, Japan, Fiji, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Magnolia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Vietnam, Brunei, Papa New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Cambodia, America, Canada and France.

Talking about the important of such events, Nepal DPR&I said that an international interaction at such a high-level would help in enhancing military intelligence in the region.

The conference was concluded by Nepal Military General Staff Chief (CGS) and Lt. General Hemanta Raj Kunwar with the decision to organize the conference’s 12^th edition in Philippines in 2019.

The Nepali Army and US Indo-Pacific Command Directorate of Intelligence organized the conference.

Poland-Nepal Joint Military Exercise:
In another scenario, Poland proposed a joint military drill for capacity enhancement of the Nepal Army.

The proposal was made by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Btaszczak to Nepal Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Defense Minister Ishwor Pokharel, on his official visit to Poland.

Minister Pokharel has accepted the proposal. According to the DPM’s Press Coordinator, Pokharel said that the Nepal Government and Army will be ready to provide staff commando training, mountain warfare training, and para basic training to the Polish Army.

Oli’s Take on BIMSTEC Joint Military Exercise
The Indian Army had first proposed a joint military exercise in the initial meeting of the BIMSTEC army representatives in June 2018.

Furthering this cause, the Indian Government announced that it would be hosting the drill and organize a meeting of army staff chiefs on the concluding day in August 2018.

However, the decision to hold a joint military exercise was strongly criticized by Nepal PM Oli’s party members, the opposition and several others. A number of Nepali lawmakers questioned the decision of Nepal’s participation in the drill.

Nepal PM Oli was quick to clear doubts and defend the exercise, terming it as a ‘friendly gesture’.

He explained that BIMSTEC did not have any military motive or believe in holding a military pact.

“Nepal Army has been conducting such friendly military exercises with India, China, Pakistan, and the United States of America, and there are a number of other multilateral drills conducted regularly. Officials from different countries take military courses in Nepal, so do our officials in other countries,” said Oli.

Adding further he said, if there had been any military motive, it would have been added to the 18 points Kathmandu Declaration.

Conclusion:
Nepal’s enthusiasm in building and maintaining military relations in note-worthy. We hope that these military decisions will bring about the much-needed regional cooperation to counter regional security-threats.

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