POKHARA, July 29: When Joanna Lumley, who campaigned for equal rights for former British Gurkha soldiers, reached the Pokhara Airport on Wednesday, the ex-servicemen who had gathered to welcome her went into frenzy.
That the happiness of the former Gurkha soldiers knew no bounds was evident. But before the former Gurkha soldiers could actually express their heartfelt gratitude, a verbal warfare broke out between the officials of the Gurkha Army Ex-servicemen´s Organization (GAESO) and the Nepal Ex-servicemen´s Association (NESA). Both claimed to be the main organizers of the function to welcome her. Later, the police intervened and allowed both the groups to welcome her.
Harka Bahadur Pun, western region President of GAESO, along with hundreds of former Gurkhas and their families had been waiting for the actress at the airport since 7 a.m. They carried tools, banners and placards. The NESA, on the other hand, had made no such preparations. President Deepak Gurung stood there at the airport as NESA´s sole representative. Lumley arrived at Pokhara airport at 9 a.m. and she was warmly welcomed with bouquets of flowers and garlands.
During her stay in Pokhara, Lumley will engage herself in plans that involves establishment of a school in Kaski´s Pumdibhumdi and in supervising the drinking water project in Syangja´s Nayabazaar. She is staying in Shangri-la Resort.
The GAESO and NESA have both organized separate programs to honor her. This has posed Lumley a dilemma as both the programs are scheduled at almost the same time. While GAESO has planned its program between 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday at the Pokhara City Hall, the NESA has scheduled its program to honor Lumley at 10.30 a.m. at the Industry and Commerce Hall the same day.
The GAESO officials lay their first claim on their right to honor Lumley, as they claim that they were the ones who were represented in the campaign for residential visas for former Gurkha soldiers. On the other hand, the NESA says maintains that every Nepali should have the right to honor Lumley. Lumley, who came to Nepal on Sunday to know about the problems and complaints of former Gurkhas, will return to the capital on Friday.
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The whole episode casts a great shadow on Gurkha´s movement for equal rights. These so called organisations and their leaders should be ashamed of themselves for their disgraceful behaviour. They should take a few leaves out of Tikendra Dewan´s book on how to conduct themselves in public. What impression did they think they gave to Joanna Lumley? Squablling over something that has no importance in the fight for equal right. You two organisations and the leaders should hang your
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