Joint Press Release

We, the following signatories have been seriously drawn to the attention over the arrest of Colonel Kumar Lama by British government in UK, during his holiday spending with his families in East Sussex, Southern England for alleged committing human rights abuses during conflict-era in Nepal.

According to the available sources, Lama is currently serving as a UN peacekeeper in South Sudan; he entered in UK with valid visa provided by British Government; he was not fleeing to escape from the persecution and Nepal government is still 'preparing to establish transitional justice mechanism to investigate the human rights abuses that occurred during the armed conflict'.

So, the arrest of Lama on the ground of the complaint filed by so-called Advocacy Forum, a human rights group in Nepal, in collaboration with a UK-based law firm is without reasonable grounds and it is a British government's “direct attack” on Nepal’s sovereignty and freedom because it is sole Nepal's right to punish him for the case that he has committed in Nepal.

Therefore we strongly condemn over the British Government's objectionable action and demand for his immediate dignified release.

PRINCIPAL PETITIONERS

Name/position/organizations 

1. Ganesh Tamang, President

(Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Forum Australia)

2. Khagendra Sitaula, President

(People Coordination Committee Australia)

3. Hem Lal Gaire, Representative

(Nepalese Peoples' Progressive Forum Australia)

4. Subansh P Sah, President

(Nepanese Tarai Association)

5. Arun Tamang, President

(Tamang Society of NSW)

7. Shashi Chandra Rai, President

(Kirat Rai, Yayokka)

8. Sonam Sherpa, President

(Sherpa Kyidung Australia)

9. Bishnu Limbu, President

(Yakthung Chumlung Australia)

10. Laxman Gurung, Represent

(Tamy Samaj Sydney)