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Families of Nepalese Killed in Marine Helicopter Crash Ask Compensation Families of Nepalese Killed in Marine Helicopter Crash Ask for Compensation
(about 5 hours later)
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Relatives of some of the five Nepalese civilians killed in a Marine helicopter crash expressed anger Sunday at what they said was the slow pace of the investigation into the deaths, and demanded compensation from the governments of Nepal and the United States.KATHMANDU, Nepal — Relatives of some of the five Nepalese civilians killed in a Marine helicopter crash expressed anger Sunday at what they said was the slow pace of the investigation into the deaths, and demanded compensation from the governments of Nepal and the United States.
The Nepalese Army announced the civilian casualties on Friday, three weeks after the crash that killed eight others, including six United States Marines and two Nepalese soldiers.The Nepalese Army announced the civilian casualties on Friday, three weeks after the crash that killed eight others, including six United States Marines and two Nepalese soldiers.
“We suffered a lot,” said Sudam Khatri Chhetri, who traveled to Kathmandu on Saturday from the village of Singati to retrieve the bodies of his cousins, who were killed in the crash. He said he wanted a written promise of compensation from the government.“We suffered a lot,” said Sudam Khatri Chhetri, who traveled to Kathmandu on Saturday from the village of Singati to retrieve the bodies of his cousins, who were killed in the crash. He said he wanted a written promise of compensation from the government.
“The local administration and the Nepal Army did not respond well to us, despite knowing that our relatives were aboard the helicopter,” he said.“The local administration and the Nepal Army did not respond well to us, despite knowing that our relatives were aboard the helicopter,” he said.
The Marines and the Nepalese Army had said that six Marines and two members of the Nepalese Army were killed in the crash of the UH-1 Huey helicopter on May 12, but after D.N.A. tests of the remains and an investigation, the Nepalese Army announced five additional casualties.The Marines and the Nepalese Army had said that six Marines and two members of the Nepalese Army were killed in the crash of the UH-1 Huey helicopter on May 12, but after D.N.A. tests of the remains and an investigation, the Nepalese Army announced five additional casualties.
The brother-in-law of one of the civilians killed said he thought the helicopter had been overloaded.The brother-in-law of one of the civilians killed said he thought the helicopter had been overloaded.
“We were in the dark for a month,” said Ganesh Ale, the brother-in-law of Lok Bahadur Katwal, a farmer in Singati who was aboard the helicopter. “The local administration and U.S. Marines are responsible for the death of our relatives.”“We were in the dark for a month,” said Ganesh Ale, the brother-in-law of Lok Bahadur Katwal, a farmer in Singati who was aboard the helicopter. “The local administration and U.S. Marines are responsible for the death of our relatives.”
The cause of the crash has not been determined, and an investigation is still underway, said a spokesman for the Nepalese Army, Brig. Gen. Jagdish Pokharel. “Initially, we had no information about civilians on board,” he said.The cause of the crash has not been determined, and an investigation is still underway, said a spokesman for the Nepalese Army, Brig. Gen. Jagdish Pokharel. “Initially, we had no information about civilians on board,” he said.
General Pokharel said the army had learned civilians might have been on board after villagers filed a complaint more than a week after the crash with the National Human Rights Commission. “We were busy in our operations, and even villagers could not get exact information about where were their relatives taken,” he said.General Pokharel said the army had learned civilians might have been on board after villagers filed a complaint more than a week after the crash with the National Human Rights Commission. “We were busy in our operations, and even villagers could not get exact information about where were their relatives taken,” he said.
After traveling to Kathmandu on Saturday, relatives said they had met with an official from the United States Embassy and representatives from the Nepalese Army at the army headquarters in the capital.After traveling to Kathmandu on Saturday, relatives said they had met with an official from the United States Embassy and representatives from the Nepalese Army at the army headquarters in the capital.
Punam Katwal said his cousin Lok Bahadur Katwal and at least three of the other civilians were taken aboard the helicopter after they were injured as they were helping villagers in Singati clear rubble from the April 25 earthquake and another earthquake hit. The villagers flagged down the helicopter, which was flying overhead, part of American relief efforts after the earthquake that killed more than 8,600 people. One resident took a video of the helicopter transporting the injured Nepalese civilians on his smartphone, which he shared with the police as evidence of the rescue.Punam Katwal said his cousin Lok Bahadur Katwal and at least three of the other civilians were taken aboard the helicopter after they were injured as they were helping villagers in Singati clear rubble from the April 25 earthquake and another earthquake hit. The villagers flagged down the helicopter, which was flying overhead, part of American relief efforts after the earthquake that killed more than 8,600 people. One resident took a video of the helicopter transporting the injured Nepalese civilians on his smartphone, which he shared with the police as evidence of the rescue.
“We expected that they would return alive after having treatment in a well-equipped hospital in Kathmandu,” said Mr. Katwal. “Weeks passed but we could not get a clue about them.”“We expected that they would return alive after having treatment in a well-equipped hospital in Kathmandu,” said Mr. Katwal. “Weeks passed but we could not get a clue about them.”
Capt. Cassandra Gesecki, a Marine spokeswoman, confirmed that the five civilians who were killed in the crash were evacuated shortly after the May 12 quake, but declined to share details on the nature of the mission.Capt. Cassandra Gesecki, a Marine spokeswoman, confirmed that the five civilians who were killed in the crash were evacuated shortly after the May 12 quake, but declined to share details on the nature of the mission.