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| Britain |
| Gurkhas return medals over 'discrimination' |
| 2008-03-20 |
| About 2,000 Gurkhas watched today as 50 veterans outside Parliament handed back their military medals in protest against the Government's "immoral discrimination" against them. Dressed in regimental ties and their distinctive khaki hats, the retired soldiers protested against "disgracefully low" pensions and called for the right to live in Britain in return for years of fighting alongside British troops. Nepalese Gurkhas have served in the Army for nearly 200 years, but receive a monthly pension of about £131 - compared to about £1,000 for their British counterparts. "Our pension is not even enough for life in Nepal. In Britain, it is incredibly low," said Dewan Gurung, 46, who served in the army for 23 years including tours in Bosnia, Sierra Leone and the Falkland islands. "Our pension is an insult, a disgrace," added Arkumar Gurung, 42, who saw duty in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 during a 19-year career. "I gave half my active life for Britain. We deserve more." The Gurkhas are also calling for a change to rules under which they have no automatic right to remain in Britain if they retired before 1997. They handed their medals over to Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, who called their plight a "national disgrace". During Commons question time, Mr Clegg asked Gordon Brown why Gurkhas who served in the Army after 1997 were "worthy" of British citizenship, but those who served before were not. Holding up one of the medals, Mr Clegg pressed the Prime Minister: "Do you know what it means for a loyal British soldier to give up a medal that he won for his long years' of service to this country?" Damber Ghaly, who handed back six medals - including an MBE - after 28 years in the Gurkhas, said: "It is very sad and emotional but I think it is the only thing we can do." The 50-year-old coordinated the protest for the Gurkhas United Front. "I served in Kosovo and Bosnia where I was in charge of my troops," he said. "It is not a case of being angry but we feel very disappointed and let down." Many of the retired veterans who today handed back their Long Service and Good Conduct medals have made their home near their old base in Folkestone, Kent. Mr Brown said the 1997 date was chosen because that was when the Gurkhas' main base moved to Britain. Their former headquarters in Hong Kong was handed over to Chinese rule that year. The Prime Minister said Labour was the first Government to have raised Gurkha pensions. It was increased last year by 19 percent to its current level. "They have done a tremendous job for our country," Mr Brown said. Check out the pictures of the Gurkhas at the link. Reminds me of Kipling's poem: For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees! |
| Posted by:Alaska Paul |
| #2 The Gurkhas are also calling for a change to rules under which they have no automatic right to remain in Britain if they retired before 1997. The Poms clearly no longer deserve the brave little men. Maybe one day soon Britain will get precisely what it deserves. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2008-03-20 16:23 |
| #1 "Dressed in regimental ties and their distinctive khaki hats, the retired soldiers protested against "disgracefully low" pensions and called for the right to live in Britain in return for years of fighting alongside British troops." Men honored and respected worldwide for their service to Queen and Country, no. Vile, freedom and Enlightenment-hating filth that treat women and non-believers like dirt, yes. The EU-Nazi lovers in G.B. strike again! |
| Posted by: ebrown2 2008-03-20 13:49 |