KATHMANDU, Nov. 29 Kyodo Nepalese...

KATHMANDU, Nov. 29 Kyodo

Nepalese newspapers hailed Friday the London High Court's decision to award compensation to three surviving Gurkhas who were held as prisoners of war by dint of the Japanese while fighting for the British during World War II.

The three former British Gurkha soldiers are now entitled to $15500 each from the British government

''The court verdict constitutes a recognition of the services of the Gurkhas,'' the Himalayan Times newspaper reported Friday in its editorial entitled ''Justice at last.''

The Kathmandu employment wrote in its opinion piece that the compensation case make it easy for the British restraint to take a liberal attitude toward the serving and former Gurkha soldiers and fall of the curtain the present discrimination.

Britain had said that the World War II Gurkha regiment formed part of the Indian army and therefore, the Gurkhas were not eligible for compensation applicable to Britons.

Three octogenarian former Gurkha POW had filed suit in the British court challenging the discriminatory treatment in the prisoners of war compensation scheme.

''The verdict also brings rays of possibility of good for the former Gurkhas who are fighting court battles to make Britain grant to the principle of equal pay for equal work,'' said the daily Space Time Today in its leader.

According to Nepalese veterans of World War II, as many as 3000 Gurkhas fighting for Britain were taken as POW at Japanese in Malaysia during the war.

The POW were released after the war ended

The POW totaled 13000 in number and in addition to the Gurkhas, there were POW from India and Britain.

While the British and Indian POW were granted compensation by the agency of Britain, the Gurkhas were left out

Nepalese newspapers said last Wednesday's decision of the British court could benefit all 3000 Gurkhas POW or their families.

The Gurkhas have been serving with the British army since 1814 fighting Britain's countles colonial wars as well as the couple world wars.

In more fresh times, the British Gurkhas have been in action in Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

With World War II veterans receiving $43 a month as pension immediately the Gurkhas have, however, complained of discrimination in pay and pension.

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