Submit your Article

Senior CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal is a fierce opponent of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal compact. Amid protests, the Federal Parliament had endorsed the compact on February 27. Rawal continues to speak against the compact, maintaining that it compromises Nepal’s sovereignty. Priyanjali Karn of ApEx talked to him to solicit his views on the compact and his future plans.  

Despite your strong objection, the parliament endorsed the MCC compact. What next?

In line with our constitutional provisions, we should always keep national interest at the center of our external dealings. Nothing is more important. Without changing its provisions that challenge our national interest, the MCC compact was endorsed in a haste and amid protests. This shows Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and other top leaders are not sensitive about our national interest. Additionally, the parliament should function as per the parliamentary regulation, but in the case of compact ratification, it was violated. 

Could you explain how the compact-ratification process was against the constitution?

Article 279 of the constitution clearly stipulates which type of agreement needs the backing of two-thirds majority and which can be passed by a simple majority. We should first formulate a federal law to chalk out a procedure on the passage of agreements by majority votes. But right now there is no such law. That is why the compact’s endorsement goes against the constitution.

Our constitution also talks about independent foreign policy and we remain firm on a non-alignment. Some provisions of the compact go against these constitutional provisions, but the government ignored such a sensitive matter and steamrolled the compact. 

What does the compact’s endorsement say about our political parties?

Like I said, the compact has several provisions which go against our national interests. If such provisions are implemented, our domestic laws, our right to self-determination, our national independence will be compromised. Therefore, all patriotic Nepalis should cautiously and consciously watch how such provisions unfold in the coming days.

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is at the forefront of violating the constitution and laws. We have to watch closely how the government implements the provisions that are against the constitution and takes forward the interpretative declaration endorsed by the parliament. The compact’s endorsement clearly shows our political parties serve foreign powers.

You have been a rebel in your own party, including on the compact. What is your current status in CPN-UML?

I am just an ordinary UML member. I am also a member of the House of Representatives elected from Achham district.

How is your relationship with party Chairman KP Oli?

I do not have any special relationship with him. We have not talked since the party’s 10th general convention in Chitwan.

Query

My 22 year-old-brother, who is in the final year of his Bachelor’s level, has not been doing well in college. Lately, I’ve noticed he comes home late and drunk almost every day. He rarely talks to anyone at home and gets irritated if we ask him something. He isn’t his normal self. My family is worried. Knowing him, I can say he will not agree to get help. What should we do? -A concerned brother

Answer by Dr Rishav Koirala, psychiatrist, Grande International Hospital

With the information you have provided, the issue points towards addiction. Addiction into some substance (alcohol or drugs) doesn’t mean that the person will have withdrawal symptoms, it may be a symptom of addiction but doesn’t mean its compulsory.

First, it is important to look at addiction as an illness and it should be treated as such. And the sooner you seek treatment, the better. Addiction affects your thinking. It can reach a point where you cannot separate right from wrong, and don’t realize you are harming yourself and the people around you.

In fact, about 60 to 70 percent of those with addiction have additional mental health problems. Either they had it in the past, or they are struggling with a mental health problem right now. A large percentage try to self-medicate themselves using more alcohol. There is also the possibility of developing a mental illness. Those who have anxiety or depression are also more inclined to substance abuse.  

The best option is to seek expert’s help for your brother. A psychiatrist can make him understand what’s going on with him and how he can help himself. It is best to seek help now, when the problem is just starting. 

Even if your brother is unwilling to acknowledge that he is increasingly dependent on alcohol and refuses help, that shouldn’t stop you and your family. You can go and talk to the psychiatrist yourself in the beginning. The psychiatrist can advise you and offer treatment options for your brother.   

Meanwhile, your family members should try to engage and communicate more with your brother. Social interaction and guidance from a person they trust can be of great help for someone with addiction. 

In our society, seeking help for addiction can be difficult because of the associated shame and stigma. But you should understand that your brother is suffering from an illness from which he can’t get out on his own. It’s also the responsibility of friends and families to support them and encourage them to seek treatment.

Threats and rebukes will not make them sober. Empathizing with their struggle is a better option. 

Russia fired missiles at an airport near Lviv on Friday, a city where hundreds of thousands found refuge far from Ukraine’s battlefields, as Moscow tries to regain the initiative in its stalled campaign against Ukraine, Reuters reported.

US President Joe Biden was due to talk with Chinese president Xi Jinping later on Friday, in an attempt to starve Russia’s war machine by isolating Moscow from the one big power that has yet to condemn its assault.

More than three weeks since President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion to subdue what he calls an artificial state undeserving of nationhood, Ukraine’s elected government is still standing and Russian forces have not captured a single big city.

Russian troops have taken heavy losses while blasting residential areas to rubble, sending more than 3 million refugees fleeing. Moscow denies it is targeting civilians in what it calls a “special operation” to disarm its neighbour.

“Russian forces have made minimal progress this week,” Britain’s defence ministry said in a daily military intelligence update, according to Reuters.

“Ukrainian forces around Kyiv and Mykolaiv continue to frustrate Russian attempts to encircle the cities. The cities of Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy and Mariupol remain encircled and subject to heavy Russian shelling.”

At least three blasts were heard near Lviv’s airport on Friday morning, with videos on social media showing large explosions and mushroom-shaped plumes of smoke rising.

Lviv’s mayor, Andriy Sadovy, said several missiles has struck an aircraft maintenance facility, destroying buildings but causing no casualties.

The city, in Western Ukraine near the Polish border, is hundreds of miles from Russia’s advance and has been one of the main destinations for Ukrainians forced to flee battle zones.

Russia has stepped up missile attacks on scattered targets in western Ukraine in recent days in what Ukrainian officials see as a bid to widen the conflict beyond areas where their troops are now bogged down, Reuters reported.

Russia has been intensively shelling eastern Ukrainian cities, especially Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol, a southern port under siege for three weeks where residents have been sheltering with no access to food or water.

One of those killed in Chernihiv was Jimmy Hill, 68, an American working in Ukraine as a university lecturer, trapped in the besieged city looking after his Ukrainian partner who was hospitalised with illness. He was gunned down by Russian snipers while waiting in a bread line, and his body was found in the street, his family said.

In his last Facebook post, he wrote that his partner was in intensive care. “Intense bombing! still alive. Limited food. Room very cold.”

Kyiv has so far been spared a major assault, even as long columns of troops bore down from the northwest and east, halted at the gates in heavy fighting that destroyed suburbs. Residents in the capital have endured nightly deadly missile attacks. In the latest, one person was killed when parts of a Russian missile hit a residential building. Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 19 people were injured including four children, according to Reuters.

The National Examination Board (NEB) has decided to conduct grade 12 examinations from May 30.

A meeting of the board held on Friday made the decision to this effect, NEB Chairman Mahashram Sharma said.

"Today's meeting decided to conduct examinations from May 30. Preparations are being made to publish the  exams routine," he said.

Earlier, the NEB had decided to conduct the examinations from June 1.

The Board is preparing to send the question papers of grade 12 online this year also.

Mere construction of hydropower projects is not sufficient. Equally important is the construction of the transmission line substation. 

Only after the placement of the transmission system, power produced from the hydropower project reaches out to the households and industries via substation. 

Lately, the government has equally emphasized the construction of transmission systems and hydropower projects. The government has been effortful to push for the consumption of country-produced power within the boundary. 

The 400-KV capacity Dhalkebar Substation has come into operation after its construction. Likewise, another second big substation of the country is to be inaugurated on Saturday. 

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is set to inaugurate the substation on Saturday, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) said. 

The NEA has named the substation as a New Khimti. The substation was constructed at Manthali municipality-13, Devitar in Ramechhap. The transmission line of double circuit 220 KV brought from Gangar of Dolakha has been connected with the Dhalkebar transmission line.

 Likewise, the capacity of 132-KV power has been connected with Kathmandu through a substation. 

The transformer of 100 MVA capacity has been installed at the sustention. The power supply is being made to Dhalkebar of Dhanusha via the substation. 

According to the NEA, three substations having capacity of 132, 220 and 400 KVs are in operation in Dhalkebar. 

Electrical Engineer of New Khimti Substation, Pradeep Dahal, preparation has been made for the programme wherein Prime Minister Deuba is set to inaugurate the substation. 

The construction of the Substation that began in 2018 had completed in June 2021. The preliminary cost of the project construction was Rs 1.50 billion. 

The power produced by the Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project having 456 MW has been connected with the New Khimti Substation. RSS

The government has distributed land ownership certificates to 23 landless squatters at ward 6 and 8 of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality in Bhaktapur district on Friday.

During a programme organized by the Survey Office, Bhaktapur, Minister for Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation distributed the certificates to them. 

On the occasion, Minister Shrestha said that around 15,000 landless squatters have been provided with land ownership certificates since the government initiated a campaign from Mahottari district some four months ago.

The government aims to provide land ownership certificates to all the landless squatters within next year. 

Minister Shrestha said that the government is going to make arrangements of employment to the family members of martyrs, Haliyas, Kamlahari as well as marginalized communities making an arrangement of survey training from this week. 

She further said that the Land-related Act is in the final phase for the implementation in order to provide land to landless squatters and to manage unsystematic settlement. 

Saying that the incumbent government has been working in favor of the people, Bagmati province Assembly member Pratima Shrestha shared that the landless of the area got land ownership after years. 

Secretary Ram Prasad Thapaliya, said that land ownership certificate distribution would be made effective, saying employees should help to make the government's campaign a success. 

Deputy Director General of Survey Department Sushil Dangol shared that land ownership certificates would be distributed to 456 people in Bhaktapur. 

Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur Rudra Devi Sharma, Deputy Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Anjana Devi Madhikarmi, Chief of Survey Office, Bhaktapur, Magnu Dutta, among others also floated their views.

Nepal recorded 51 new Covid-19 cases on Friday. 

According to the Ministry of Health and Population, 2, 592 swab samples were tested in the RT-PCR method, of which 12 returned positive. Likewise, 3, 322 people underwent antigen tests, of which 39 tested positive.

The Ministry said that no one died of virus in the last 24 hours. The Ministry said that 392 infected people recovered from the disease.

As of today, there are 3, 996 active cases in the country.

The Tanahun District Court has extended the remand of actor Paul Shah for the third time.

Actor Shah is in police custody on the charge of raping a minor. 

The Tanahu District Court has extended the remand by five days. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police Yubraj Khadka said that the remand of Shah was extended after the investigation into the case did not complete.

Shah was sent to custody for seven days for the first time on February 27 and the remand was extended by 12 days on March 5 for the second time. He was also taken to Nawalpur after a complaint was filed against him in Nawalpur too. 

The District Government Attorney Office has also filed a case against Shah at Nawalpur District Court. RSS