In its first official response over the arrest of Colonel Lama on accusation of human rights violation on Thursday, NA said that the arrest was made when Colonel Lama was on a visit to his family members. "Nepal Army has expressed sadness over the arrest of Lama who reached the UK along with official documents to meet his family members after endorsing a leave for 21 days from December 17, 2012 to January 6, 2013 from both the mission and NA headquarters," the NA said in a statement.[break]
Colonel Lama was serving at UNMISS Mission in South Sudan as senior Military Liaison Officer. NA has said that necessary coordination with UK´s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other concerned government agencies is being made through Nepal´s embassy in London.
According to Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy, Tej Bahadur Chhetri, the embassy separately handed over a ´note verbal´ to UK´s Foreign Office, protesting the arrest and demanding immediate release of Lama. "Officials have assured us that they will communicate our positions to concerned government agencies," said Chhetri.
Colonel Lama, who was denied bail, will be produced at Central Criminal Crown Court on January 24. He is charged with intentionally ´inflicting severe pain or suffering´ as a public official on two separate individuals.
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