British Ambassador Keith Bloomfield. (File photo)
British Ambassador Keith Bloomfield. (File photo)
In a letter written to former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, British ambassador to Nepal Keith G. Bloomfield has expressed surprise and sadness over the decision of the Royal Commission on Corruption Control (RCCC) to imprison him and others on charge of corruption.
According to Kantipur daily, in his letter sent to Deuba last week, the ambassador opined that the decision of the Commission was arbitrary since the Asian Development Bank (ADB) – the lead financier of the Melamchi Water Supply Project – had already clarified that there was no irregularity (while awarding the contract).
Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba (File photo)
Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba (File photo)
“There had never been such an incident such as arresting a former prime minister in the middle of the night, detain for months and hold him guilty by an agency that has failed to gain legitimacy from Nepali people,” the envoy is quoted as saying in his letter.
“If you decide to go to Supreme Court against this verdict, I hope, rule of law will prevail,” the envoy said. He reiterated the British viewpoint that strengthening of democracy, human rights and rule of law are imperative to resolve the existing conflict in Nepal.
The British ambassador further said he would continue to monitor the case with due concern, according to reports.
When contacted by Nepalnews, an official at the British embassy in Kathmandu confirmed that ambassador Bloomfield had written a letter to the former premier and that it was a private letter.
The Indian government and US have already made their concerns public regarding the jailing of Deuba and others by the controversial RCCC last week.