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Alleged intimidation of Gurkhas upsets Britain

Britain has asked the Nepalese government to investigate reports that groups linked to the Communist Party of Nepal are allegedly involved in a campaign of extortion and intimidation against former British Army Gurkhas.

Senior British Army officers are furious about a campaign of "extortion and intimidation" by a radical pressure group, the Gurkha Army Ex-Services Organisation, which is closely linked with the CPN.

They say many elderly veterans and widows of members of the Brigade of Gurkhas are being threatened and exploited by left-wing thugs, The Sunday Telegraph reported.

The British defence and foreign office are pressing the Nepalese government to increase monitoring of the distribution of Gurkha pensions.

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has raised the issue with the Nepalese government, warning that the government would take legal action if the intimidation wasn't stopped.

According to the newspaper, a spokesman for GAESO confirmed on Saturday night that the organisation had been "fund-raising" among former Gurkhas, but denied the group was involved in intimidation.

The general secretary of the organisation, Lieutenant Yan Bahadur Gurung, said: "We are raising funds for fighting against the racial discrimination of the British government against retired Gurkha soldiers."

A British defence ministry spokesman said, "There has been an increase in the activity which coincides with a pension-paying round at the 25 army welfare offices in Nepal. We pay the money out, then the intimidation starts."

"We have asked the Nepalese government for an armed police guard at the head of Gurkha forces in Nepal. If there are any more threats against former British Army Gurkhas, we have asked the government to investigate them."

A senior officer in the Gurkhas said, "GAESO have been stirring the pot on the pensions issue for political purposes and there has been considerable intimidation."

PTI

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