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Britain

Gurkhas win right to settle in Britain

2008-10-01

After a long and bitter legal battle, a group of retired Gurkha soldiers, who served in the British Army, have won the right to settle in Britain.

Those who retired before 1997, when their regiment was based in Hong Kong, were not eligible for an automatic right to stay on grounds that they do not have strong residential ties with Britain. They need to apply for British residency and can be refused.

But on Tuesday, in what was hailed as a landmark judgment, the High Court ruled in their favour in a case brought by five ex-Gurkhas and the widow of another colleague. Justice Blake said Britain owed Gurkhas a "moral debt of honour" in view of their long service, conspicuous acts of bravery and loyalty to the Crown. The ruling, which is likely to benefit some 2,000 retired Gurkhas, was described by the community as a vindication of "commonsense."

"Today we have seen a tremendous and historic victory for the gallant Gurkha veterans of Nepal. This is a victory that restores honour and dignity to deserving soldiers who faithfully served in Her Majesty's armed forces. It is a victory for commonsense; a victory for fairness; and a victory for the British sense of what is right," said their lawyer Martin Howe.

Posted by:Fred

#7 It occurs to me that our official policy should be that if Britain doesn't want them, we'll be glad to let them in.

Posted by: Tranquil Mechanical Yeti 2008-10-01 16:34

#6 If a man says he is not afraid of death, he is either lying or he is a Gurkha. - Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw: Chief of Staff of the Indian Army

Posted by: john frum 2008-10-01 16:20

#5 As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you.

- Professor Sir Ralph Turner, MC, who served with the 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles in the First World War.

Posted by: Besoeker 2008-10-01 14:21

#4 About bloody time. Labour have allowed every creep who claims to be from cess-pits like Somalia in willy-nilly, in the name of 'humanity' and refused honourable Nepalis who have actually risked their lives fighting for this country. Why? Because they have documentation and so CAN be barred entry. Let the gurkhas in, throw the parasites back out.

Posted by: Bulldog 2008-10-01 12:43

#3 An astounding display of common sense and honour so absent from Britain today.

Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-10-01 07:45

#2 They refuse these guys and let in a flood of worthless, illiterate, lunatics that don't know what those rolls of white paper are for in a bathroom. WTF? Not the right kind of "ASIANS"?

Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-10-01 07:15

#1 This could actually help. Remember they were primarily responsible along with the SAS of securing Malaysia during that little flare up. Now having about 1,000 well trained veteran Gurkhas deployed in various sections of Londonstan and the Midlands may give pause to any Islamic partying.

Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-10-01 07:04

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