Accusing the government of not being serious about their plight, United British Gurkhas Ex-Servicemen Association of Nepal (UBGESAN) urged the government to correspond to the British government to ensure the rights of the Gurkha soldiers.
During an interaction with Constituent Assembly members, UBGESAN criticized the government for not heeding an instruction of a parliamentary committee. The International Relation and Human Rights Committee of parliament had instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on December 24, 1998 to internationalize the issue of former Gurkha soldiers.
Meanwhile, UBGESAN has floated nine-point demands on behalf of all Gurkha soldiers. The new charter of demands include pensions on par with their British counterparts, review of the 1947 tripartite treaty, extensive residential visas and dual citizenships to Gurkha soldiers. UBGESAN has also urged the government to incorporate the issue of Gurkha soldiers in the new constitution.
Foreign Affairs Minister Sujata Koirala has assured former Gurkha soldiers to initiate diplomatic efforts to help address their demands. “I know that Gurkha soldiers have not ever been treated on par with their British counterparts,” Koirala said. “I will take diplomatic initiatives to address their plight.” She maintained that the government was always of the view that Gurkha soldiers should enjoy equal rights as per the 1947 tripartite treaty, which unequivocally states that they are not mercenaries.
Koirala said that the government is also positive about providing dual citizenship to Gurkha soldiers. “We are mulling over it,” she said.
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