"The Government promised citizenship rights to retired Gurkhas following a major campaign in 2004, but hundreds of retired Gurkhas who should have the right to citizenship are having their applications unfairly held up by the Home Office.
The Gurkhas are also fighting the Government decision to only allow Gurkhas who retired after 1st July 1997 to become citizens - discriminating against hundreds of Gurkhas who served loyally but retired before this artificial cut-off date.
Gurkha campaigners are also calling for a fairer deal on pensions - Gurkha pensions are currently between 1/8th and 1/6th of the equivalent UK Service person."
Quotes from petitions.pm.gov.uk
I'd like to draw your attention to the Gurkhas' plight. These a proud, extremely brave group of Nepalese soldiers who have been fightingalongside the British Army for over 200 years and their motto is: "better to die than be a coward". They fought in the two world wars, the Falklands, Kosovo, Afghanisatan, Borneo etc - yet are being unfairly treated by our Government.
I for one feel ashamed of their treatment as I have first hand knowledge of them. When I worked in the British Embassy in Bangkok, they were our security guards and they were so very respected (they also knew how to throw a good party:)). They are equally embarrassed about having to go to Downing Street to give their petition to the PM and have said they would take legal action, although it is unlikely they will take this route as don't want to make trouble.
If you feel you would like to put your name to their plight, please sign the petition as these men deserve better treatment.
Please go to [link= http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/gurkha ]http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/gurkha[/link]
Thanks for your time in reading this.
Love
RE: Spare a thought for the Gurkhas
Hi,
I signed the petition. My Father who is now 90 fought in Burma during WW2. He fought along side the Gurkhas and is always full of praise for their dedication and professionalism as Soldiers.
Britain hasreceived nothing but service, bravery andloyalty from these Soldiers. The Gurkhas have far more regard for this country than Tony Blair and his rotten government do. It's about time they were treated with the respect they deserve.
Dunkirk.
RE: Spare a thought for the Gurkhas
"better to die than be a coward".
What an amazing bit of brain washing!!!!!
Better to show love to your fellow man surely!!
RE: Spare a thought for the Gurkhas
Given their poor treatment it is ironic that in the recent MoD statement it transpires that the Gurkha regiment is the only one in the entire British Army which is fully up to strength!
RE: Spare a thought for the Gurkhas
Hi Derek,
The Gurkhas are the cheapest to employ and also, conditions back home are so poor that there is no lack of recruits!
Thanks Lotusflower for bringing this to our attention. My father in law was attached to a Ghurka regiment and so I have sent it on around the family.
Judy
Shameful!
More than a year later Sue and still it continues, now there is further stuff for me to be ashamed about,
I am ashamed that 50 Gurkhas staged a diginfied protest where they returned their medals of bravery.
I am ashamed that along with only getting one sixith of the pension given to white soldiers that fought under our flag they had to wait until 2004 for those that retired after 1997 to have the racist law of denying them citizenship overturned, and I am further ashamed that a Gurkha that fought for the country and got wounded in the Faulklands is not entitled to even medical care yet the Gurkha's are good enough to be entursted to 'look after' Prince harry when he was serving in Afghanistan.
I wish the country was ashamed with me and then perhaps things would get put right pretty quickly 🙁
.
Thanks Sue for starting this thread. I remember the Gurkhas being security guards when I was younger and have always respected them.
It's so sad that people who are so loyal and fight for this country are treated so shabbily. I have heard that where the Gurkhas are based in this country (Hampshire) - the locals like them more than the British sqaddies as they don't behave badly and have respect for the people living there. However the Gurkhas being treated badly by our Government doesn't surprise me as, although I don't want to get too political or start a political debate, the very people who give this country the most (whether they be British or foreigners, in the armed forces or civilians) - get treated the worst. That's not just the Gurkhas but also others who fight in our armed forces, law abiding civilians who just work hard and pay taxes - the Government just grinds more and more out of them by raising taxes, not giving good medical care etc. Those who have given the least (or indeed haven't given ANYTHING) to this country - like those who have never intended getting a job and just live on benefits - they just get given more and more :mad:.
Didn't Joanna Lumley fight for an ex Gurkha (who had saved her father's life) to come to Britain for medical treatmnet as he had been refused entry to the UK by the powers that be - despite having won a VC ?? 😮
There are times when I feel ashamed to be British - and this is one of them.
PS - I just looked to sign the petition but it closed in February.:(
I think I would have to agree with all the comments made by Happy Girl.