British Govt accused of discrimination against Gurkhas

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s barrister wife today went to court to accuse her husband’s government of racial discrimination against former Nepali soldiers from the British army’s Gurkha units.

"This case concerns what we say is systematic and institutionalised less favourable treatment of Gurkha soldiers ... on the grounds of their race and nationality," Reuters news agency quoted Cherie Booth as telling the London High Court.

Booth, or Mrs Blair, is representing seven former members of the Gurkhas, who have been fighting for Britain since 1815. Currently there are 3,517 Nepali Gurkhas within the British military. The ex-Gurkhas are suing the British government for alleged inferior pay and widespread discriminations in the military.

The Gurkhas hail from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal, and known as fearsome fighters. With their trademark curved "Khukuri" knives, the Gurkhas have fought as British troops in recent years in the Falklands, the Gulf War, Kosovo and East Timor.

But they claim their meagre wage and pension, set under a colonial-era 1947 agreement - following a tripartite agreement between Nepal, India and Britain - do not provide them with the equivalent standard of living when they retire in Nepal as that enjoyed by retired soldiers in Britain.

"On the one hand Gurkhas are acknowledged to be brave fighters who have provided loyal service to the Crown for nearly 200 years, and even today serve in Kuwait," reports quoted Booth as saying. "But on the other hand, they are treated as different and inferior in relation to other parts of the British Army on terms and conditions of service."

If the Gurkhas’ succeed in their claim, experts say, the British government could face a bill of more than $1 billion to compensate past and current Gurkhas.

According to officials with the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation (GAESO), earlier this month the British Defence Ministry called all Gurkha soldiers who had come home on leave.

For its part, the British government argues there has been no unlawful discrimination against the Gurkhas and that they have waited too long to bring forward a test case.

Ministry of Defence spokesman said that last year there were 27,000 applicants for 230 places in the Gurkha regiments, according to agency reports.

"That figure is testimony to the enormous desire there is to join the Gurkhas because of the fantastic prestige and opportunities they have," the spokesman has been quoted as saying. He acknowledged, however, that they have "different terms and conditions to UK servicemen." In November last year, in a separate claim, three elderly retired Gurkhas who survived years in Japanese prison camps in World War Second won a High Court challenge to the government’s decision not to extend prisoner of war compensation payments to Gurkhas.

The court ruled that decision had been "racist." GAESO officials and their Nepali legal advisor Gopal Siwakoti Chintan expressed optimism before leaving for London last week saying that "chances of the Gurkhas winning most of the cases are extremely high".

The former and present Gurkhas have filed cases primarily against four types of discriminations, and they are preparing to claim compensation from the British government for over 1,000 ex-Gurkha prisoners of war. The hearing is to continue for four days, and it could take months before the High Court announces its verdict.

Queen’s birthday celebrated

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KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : The nation today celebrated the 53rd birthday of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah by organising various programmes. Her Majesty was born in 1951 of late Kendra Shamsher JBR and Shrirajya Laxmi Rana in Kathmandu.

Choudhari appointed Raj Parishad chief

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KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : His Majesty King Gyanendra today appointed Parashu Narayan Choudhari to the post of Raj Parishad (State Council) Standing Committee Chairman. The post was vacant after the four-year term of Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi as the chairman expired on Tuesday.

Choudhari, 75, who is the first person from the backward Tharu community of the western Nepal to be appointed to a top level post of the nation, was general secretary of Nepali Congress during 1950s and 60s, who later defected to the Panchayat regime during 1970s. He was also the commander for the mid-western region during 1950’s movement against the Rana autocracy. He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives in the 1960’s elections from Dang and appointed as Minister for Education in BP Koirala’s cabinet. Before his appointment as the chief of the Raj Parishad, he was associated with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).

The king also appointed Dr. Swami Prapannacharya, former army chief Gen. Satchit SJB Rana, Kul Raj Sharma, Ganesh Bahadur Gurung, Chakra Bahadur Shanker and Gyan Prasad Acharya as members of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee. The king also appointed six members to the vacant post of Raj Parishad Standing Committee and 55 others into the Raj Parishad.

The members to be nominated to the members of Raj Sabha are Bhagwati Das Shrestha, Santa Bahadur Rai, Rajendra Bahadur Tumbahamphe, Rajendra Bahadur Thapa, Kali Prasad Rizal and Parsuram Rai, Bhakta Bahadur Singh Thakuri, Dwarikaman Singh, Dal Kumari Sunwar, Guru Sharan Rohit Yadav, Kari Yadav ‘Suman’, Mohammed Arif, Sheikh Sarajul, Swami Ramananda Giri, Lila Raj Bista, Dawa Finjo Tamang, Jeevan Lal Shrestha, Madan Krishna Hada, Lehendrup Lama and Bel Prasad Shrestha.

Former army chief Prajwalla Shumsher JB Rana, Damodar Shumsher JB Rana, Krishna Bhai Maharjan, Bashu Pasa, Ananda Bahadur Shrestha, Sabitri Singh, Indira Shrestha, Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Shyamdas Baishnav, Hari Prasad Rimal, Khilendra Prasad Pandey, Dr Bhisma Raj Prasai, Jogmehar Shrestha, Hari Krishna Shrestha, Hitkar Bir Singh Kansakar and Birendra Bahadur Shaha are also the new members of the Raj Parishad.

Similarly, Buddhi Baj Bajracharya, Bed Raj Panta, Tasi Gurung, Rudra Bahadur KC, Baikuntha Bahadur Chand, Motiraj Bhusal Chinta Bahadur Basent, Dr Prem Bahadur Shahi, Ganga Prasad Subedi, Narbada Sharma Khanal, Surbir Shahi, Krishna Bahadur Malla, Dr Dhan Bahadur Shahi, Dr Narjung Shahi, Ram Bahadur Shahi and Shakti Amatya have appointed as the members of the Raj Parishad.

Their Majesties grace special function

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : Their Majesties King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah graced a special function held at the Royal Nepal Army pavilion, Tundikhel today on the occasion of Tribhuvan Jayanti and the 53rd National Democracy Day.

At the function, Their Majesties were presented badges and programme booklets by Prime Minister and Main Celebration Committee Chairman Lokendra Bahadur Chand. Their Majesties the King and Queen garlanded a portrait of His Late Majesty King Tribhuvan.

His Majesty the King also gave away cash prizes to athletes, instructors and others enhancing national pride through the winning of medals at the l4th Asian Games held in the South Korean City of Bushan.

Those given away prizes by His Majesty were bronze medalists Deepak Bista, Ritu Zimi Rai and Renuka Magar, Chief Instructor Deepak Raj Gurung, Foreign Instructor Seul A. Riu and Taekwando Chairman Rukma Shumsher Rana.

At the function, Their Majesties were presented a royal salute. A Royal Nepal Army helicopter rained down flowers at the programme venue and also released balloons.

The Royal Nepal Army, the Nepal Police, the Armed Police, the National Cadet Corps and Nepal Scouts staged a march past while the National Sports Council put on an interesting sports display.

Prime Minister and Chairman of the Function Committee Lokendra Bahadur Chand addressed the function.

Also present on the occasion were the chief justice, the speaker, the National Assembly chairman, the deputy prime minister, ministers, former prime ministers, leaders of various political parties, MPs of the National Assembly, heads of constitutional bodies, high ranking officials, diplomats and other distinguished individuals.

Students, teachers, civil and military employees, professors, sportsmen, labourers, social workers, businessmen and industrialists awere likewise present.

Despite the rainy weather, members of the general public converged around Tundikhel to watch the function.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand went to Sahid Gate and paid emotional tributes to the martyrs.

On the occasion, the chief justice, the speaker, the Raj Parishad Standing Committee chairman, ministers, office bearers of the National Democracy day celebration committee, high ranking HMG officials and members of the general public also paid tributes to the martyrs.

PM asks all to co-operate with Govt in restoring peace

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KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said here today that the problem the nation is facing for some years was common of all the Nepalese people and stressed the need for collective efforts to overcome it.

Addressing a special ceremony organised to mark the 53rd Democracy Day in the capital, Prime Minister Chand said the deteriorated law and order situation and disturbed development pace caused discomfort to all the people. "But it can be brought down to normalcy if we are able to maintain long-term peace."

He said that there have been some positive indications in recent days in favour of talks, the only mean the government has been emphasising for the resolution of the problem dogging the country for years.

Prime Minister also requested all the political parties, intellectuals and civil society for co-operation with the government’s endeavours for restoration of peace in the country.

"All of them must come to a point of national consensus while giving up all their partisan stances," PM Chand said. "The democracy day will inspire all to join hands to tackle all the problems collectively."

"As the democracy reflects the wishes of the people, a democratic culture should be developed to fulfil them," Chand said. "Democracy should be able to accommodate the feelings of the people for its consolidation."

Kantipur Publications observes 10th anniversary
Kantipur Welfare Fund to be set up

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KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. marked its tenth anniversary amidst a function here today with pomp and gaiety, awarding its outstanding staff members and others.

Hem Raj Gyawali, Chairman of Kantipur Publications, speaking at the function, announced the establishment of Kantipur Welfare Fund. The publication will donate one paisa out of each copy of Kantipur and The Kathmandu Post sold to the fund.

Chairman Gyawali added that the fund would be used to help in the development of underprivileged sector such as education and health. "The fund would come into exist after the necessary legal process is complete," said Gyawali at the programme held at the Birendra International Convention Centre.

He also announced that new venture of publications, Kantipur Television, would be aired in one to two months.

At the function, Gyawali awarded subscribers, distributors, top journalism students and outstanding performers from within the publications.

Ten subscribers, who have been regularly subscribing any one publication for last ten years, were honoured and were given free ten-year subscription of all the publications of Kantipur Publications Pvt. Ltd. Those who received the honour include Bal Krishna Timilsina of Tangal, Kabindra Tamrakar of Patan, Sushila Rayamajhi of Old Baneshwore, Hutaram Baidya of Tripureshwore, and Mahesh Murarka of Old Baneshwore, Syakar Company, Surya Nepal, Chandi Higher Secondary School, Save the Children UK and Hulash Steel Industries.

Surendra Phuyal of The Kathmandu Post, Bijaya Ghimire of Kantipur, Dinesh Wagle of Nepal and Santosh Acharya of Saptahik were awarded for the outstanding performance during last year.

Similarly, Hem Chandra Subedi of Kantipur FM, Binod Gautam of Marketing Department, Chandra Dewa of Circulation Department, Sridhar Pokharel of Finance Department, Mukunda Dahal of Administration and Press Department and Laxmi Narayan Maharjan of Computer and Designing Department were also duly awarded.

Sujeet Ale of the Kantipur FM Marketing Department also received the outstanding award. Among reporters working outside the valley, Dinesh Regmi of Nuwakot was adjudged best and awarded for his news coverage.

Ujjwal Prajapati of Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus received the Kantipur Journalism Award for securing highest marks in journalism in bachelors level. Sharada Rijal and Gokarna Prasad Bhatta also received similar awards for securing highest marks in journalism in certificate level and topping the one-year journalism training conducted by Nepal Press Institute respectively.

The Kantipur Journalism Award carries a purse of Rs. 4,000 and a citation.

Meanwhile, 11 distributors from across the nation were also felicitated on the occasion.

‘Talks make substantial progress’

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KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : Nepal and India claimed today that they made "substantial progress" on the two treaties they have been discussing for the last four days. The talks being held at Shital Niwas have been extended for another day and will conclude tomorrow.

Both Madan Kumar Bhattarai of Nepal and BA Roy of India, leaders of their delegations on extradition treaty, told reporters that the two sides made substantial progress and have understood each other’s positions. "We have understood each other’s positions," said Bhattarai. "We have also discussed our differences." He declined to speak further.

Similarly, Roy said the talks made progress and admitted that it was not easy to understand the complexities of the treaties. "The talks are also confidence-building measures." He too declined to reveal further. The two countries’ position on handing over citizens of third countries is proving to be a stumbling block in thrashing out the differences on the extradition treaty that is being updated from its 1953 version.

While India wants citizens of third countries included, Nepal is not too comfortable with the idea. Also, while India is insisting on extraditing someone who has been sentenced at least a year for a criminal offence, Nepal wants the ceiling be minimum two years.

Rebel leaders confer with Tuladhar, Dhungana, Bijukchhe

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KATHMANDU, Feb 19 : The members of the Maoist talk team today conferred with human rights activists Padma Ratna Tuladhar and Daman Nath Dhungana and leader of chairman of Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party (NWPP) Narayan Man Bijukchhe concerning the need to prepare for the crucial peace talks in the near future. The meeting comes along with meeting with leaders of various political parties.

While the meeting with Tuladhar was a face-to-face encounter, the exchange of views between them and Dhungana took place over telephone. Since the consultation were not conclusive with the latter, they are slated to meet Dhungana after he comes back from New Delhi. Dhungana has been asked to take up the role of facilitator.

During the meeting which lasted nearly an hour, Maoist leaders Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Dinnath Sharma told Tuladhar to take up the role of facilitator once again. However, their appointment as facilitators would have to be agreed to by the government.

"I have told them to be prepared for a lengthy and gargantuan series of talks," Tuladhar told The Kathmandu Post. He also said that unlike last year when the government talks team rushed into political agenda early on in the talks, the talks this time around would have to be more structured and comprehensive.

In fact, the talks concerning political agenda would have to be taken up gradually before issues surrounding economic and cultural demands are sorted out in a minute detail. " This is what I have suggested them in the light of the last year’s experience. Point would ought to be made to ensure that the talks are not rushed," Tuladhar suggested them.

The government and the Maoist talks teams are likely to be backed up by supporting teams in the interest of uninterrupted series of talks. Moreover, the Maoist team for peace talks would be holding series of meeting with chief government negotiator and Minister of Physical Planning and Works, Narayan Singh Pun, which will be followed by similar meeting with the representatives of political parties.

Meanwhile, the rebel outfit is expected to finalise its code of conduct, with the government already having passed on its code of conduct governing the cease-fire which is expected to be a protracted one in view of the seriousness demonstrated by the rebel outfit towards peace talks.

The rebel leaders also met with the NWPP chairman Narayan Man Bijukchhe at the latter’s office today, according to NWPP press statement received here.

During the meeting, Bijukchhe urged the rebel leaders to present themselves at the possible government-Maoist peace talks in a responsible way.

He, however, expressed suspicions over the modalities of the round table conference as stressed by the Maoists and asked them to make it clear what they wanted to add in the future constitution through constituent assembly.

Maoist leader Sharma, responding to Bijukchhe’s queries, said the cease-fire agreement was not a sudden incident. "The government has agreed to discuss on the issues of round-table conference, interim government and constituent assembly election after a long debate," Sharma has been quoted as saying.