Nepali Times

'Bring back Col Lama'

A parliamentary committee has directed the government to repatriate Nepal Army (NA) colonel Kumar Lama.

The Brief
From the archive blog: The Brief

A parliamentary committee has directed the government to initiate diplomatic efforts to repatriate Nepal Army (NA) colonel Kumar Lama to Nepal.

Lama is now undergoing a trial in the UK. He was arrested by the UK authorities two years ago when he visited his family in East Sussex, England. He faces charges of extrajudicial detention and torture during the decade-long Maoist insurgency that killed 17,000 people in Nepal.

On Friday, the Social Justice and Human Rights Committee of the parliament instructed the government, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to repatriate Lama and probe allegations leveled against him through the recently-formed Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

At the parliamentary committee's meeting, lawmakers said Lama's arrest was a breach of national sovereignty and criticised the government for not doing enough to bring him back home.

Law Minister Narhari Acharya said the government would do its best to bring back Lama as per the parliamentary committee's directive. Earlier, the parliamentary committee had summoned Prime Minister Sushil Koirala to enquire about Lama's case. As Prime Minister could not make it, Law Minister spoke on behalf of the government in the meeting.

Lama has been charged with detaining and torturing people when he was at the NA barrack in Gorusinge of Kapilvastu district in 2005. The UK authorities have charged him under the section 134 of the Criminal Justice Act-1988.

Earlier, the government had written to the UK government for Lama's release. Lama was later released on a bail with a condition that he will not leave the UK unless his trial is over.

 

 

 

Category:The Brief
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Comments (Archive)

  • ABC

    Rather than blog, which generally provide analysis, this article looks like news. I dont know who writes for this 'blog' in Nepali times, outsiders or NT staffers. It should have mentioned that Nepal and UK has not entered into extradition treaty and the alleged crime Lama has been under trial, that is torture, has not been criminalized in Nepal. So, even if they bring Lama back home, how would they ensure that impunity does not prevail and lama goes under trial. It seems they are thinking of a mockery truth finding thru politically controlled TRC and let Lama free.

  • yam gurung

    No one is above the law and no one been brought to justice since the Maoist insurgency that killed 17,000 innocent people in cold blood in Nepal. And the loved ones are still waiting for the justice and answer?

  • namah

    we need to start outsourcing major parts of governance...TRC being one?

  • david seddon

    Torture is a crime that falls within the international jurisdiction. When Col Lama was arrested by the British police in January 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service felt that the evidence - provided by two Nepalis who were alleged victims supported by a Nepali human rights NGO - was sufficient to bring a prosecution. Since the, the government of Nepal and its various 'branches' have done everything they to have the matter settled out of court and to avoid a proper trial in Britain. Eventually, after many delays, the trial began on Friday 13 March 2015. But clearly, from the blog and other comments, the government of Nepal has continued to avoid a proper trial. It is highly unlikely that the High Court at the Old Bailey, where the trial is being held, will agree to hand proceedings over to be dealt with in Nepal, whether by a Court or by the TRC. As ABC remarks, there is no extradition treaty between Nepal and the UK and torture has not been criminalised in Nepal, yet. The proposal would bring Lama back to Nepal with no certainty that he would undergo a proper trial. In fact, however, although a jury was sworn in and the trial started, with opening speeches made by the prosecuting and defence councils and preliminary evidence given by an expert witness on the background (the situation in Nepal at the time of the alleged torture), the jury was dismissed towards the end of March and the trial stopped temporarily (adjourned) as suitable interpreters apparently could not be found. A hearing was to be held in mid April and the trial resumed at a later date, possibly in the summer. The Crown Prosecution Service and the British police, who brought the case, are understandably very frustrated and angry at the further delay in this important case. So too are all those of us who wish to see justice done as regards allegations of torture during the conflict in Nepal prior to the CPA.