GAESO ATTENDS 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF NEPALESE DEMOCRATIC FORUM UK
and highlights Gurkhas plights caused bythe racist British government

GAESO President, Padam Bahadur Gurung, and Legal Advisor, Gopal Siwakoti 'Chintan', attended the 3rd anniversary of the Nepalese Democratic Forum UK in London on 20 December 2007 and urged all the Nepalese community for their support to Gurkahs on-going fight for equal rights to pension and permanent settlement. They also criticised the systematic and consistent pattern of race and nationality-based discrimination by the British government and the silence of the Nepali government on Gurkhas plights for 200 years. Gurung and Chintan also expressed their full solidarity for the cause of democracy, human rights and peace in Nepal and appreciated the role of the NDF UK since its establishment.

On this occasion, Central Committee Members, Hem Raj Rai (former minister) and Kiran Gurung of Communist Party of Nepal (UML) expressed their full support for Gurkhas struggle for equality. They also urged all Nepali communities to join in their struggle until the British government guarantees full equality for all Gurkhas irrespective of their residence. Mr Rai further said Gurkhas are the only groups who are fighting for their human rights in the UK at the moment and urged all Nepali associations and organisations to express their full solidarity for this cause while keeping their other differences aside. Mr Gurung assured of continuing support of the CPN (UML) for Gurkhas cause and asked the Nepali government to convey its clear message to the British government without further delay. They also highlighted the importance of the immediate resolution of discrimination against the Gurkahs once and for all.

As chief guests of the event, both Rai and Gurung praised the contribution made by the Nepali communities abroad during the People's Movement 2 (2062/63) and urged for their more support in the future. Responding to questions from the floor, they highlighted the need of seven party consensus politics till the election of the Constituent Assembly and address all other issues and problems under the framework of a new democratic federal republic of Nepal.

Addressing the anniversary event, Nepal's new ambassador to the UK, Hon. Murari Raj Sharma, appreciated the role of all Nepalis abroad for democracy, human rights and peace and urged them to work for their collective identity in the UK.

But surprisingly, ambassador Sharma intentionally failed to touch upon on any issues relating to the Gurkhas plights about why the Nepali government and the Embassy are silent on this matter even after the restoration of multi-multy party system in Nepal in 1990. What is important here to understand is that no speeches or political statements work for the Gurkhas and what they need is a firm commitment and formal reply to the British government in favour of full equality for all the Gurkhas without any discrimination.

However, it was disappointing to the ambassador's silence even after the recent news that Prime Minister Koirala was going to instruct the Embassy for taking necessary steps on Gurkhas matters. GAESO had condemned this news as fake and that it carried no weight. The ambassador's silence was an additional proof.

Speaking at the programme, Jhabindra Prasad Aryal, the Consular of the Nepali Embassy,  appreciated the work of the NDF UK for democratic change in Nepal.

Before the end of the programme, head of Ethnic and Indigenous Populations Unit of the NDF UK, Bhakta Gurung, thanked all the guests and participants of the anniversary and urged the ambassador Sharma to be more transparent and pro-active on the activities of the Nepali Embassy in London unlike the Royal past.

From the chair, Ang Kal Jung Lama, founding head of the NDF UK, requested GAESO to also combine the human rights issues of all Nepali communities in the UK as relevant together with of the Gurkhas and appreciated its most inspiring campaigns for equal justice and the power to pressure on the British government. Earlier, Ganga Kharel and Dinesh Ghimire of the NDF UK thanked all the participants and highlighted the objective of this event. The programme was conducted by Surendra Thapaliya, General-Secretary of the NDF UK.

Posted on 22 December 2007
London