Monday, April 27, 2009

Support Our Gurkhas!

British Gurkha Soldier PosterVCHero.co.uk

Gurkhas are fighting for Justice. They want the same terms and conditions as their UK and Commonwealth counterparts.
Sign the Gurkha Justice Campaign Petition

From Wikipedia...
Background:
The Current Issue:
  • The treatment of Gurkhas and their families has been the subject of controversy in the United Kingdom following revelations that Gurkhas received smaller pensions than their British equivalents.[63] On 8 March 2007, it was announced by the British Government that all Gurkhas who signed up after July 1, 1997 would receive a pension equivalent to that of their British counterparts. In addition, Gurkhas would, for the first time, be able to transfer to another army unit after five years service to broaden their experience. It was also stated that, for the first time in the history of the Gurkhas, women would be allowed to join - although not in infantry units, in line with general British Army policy.[64]
  • Despite this, many Gurkhas who had not served long enough to entitle them to a pension faced hardship on their return to Nepal, and some critics have derided the Government's decision to only award the new pension to those joining after the 1 July 1997, claiming that this left many ex-Gurkhas still facing a financially uncertain retirement. A charity, the Gurkha Welfare Trust, provides aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen.[65]
  • The nationality status of Gurkhas and their families was also previously an area of dispute, with claims that some ex-army Nepali families were being denied residency and forced to leave Britain. The new policy on Gurkhas (announced by the British Government on 8 March 2007) guarantees residency rights in Britain for retired Gurkhas and their families. In a landmark ruling on 30 September 2008 the High Court in London decided that Gurkhas who left the Army before 1997 did have an automatic right of residency in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] Before this ruling only Gurkhas who left the British Army after 1997 were granted automatic residency benefits.[66] In line with the ruling of the High Court the Home Office is to review all cases affected by this decision.
  • There is a campaign currently running to support Gurkhas and pressure the UK government into giving more help and equal treatment to Gurkhas, called Gurkha Justice.[67] There is also a direct petition to the British Prime Minister on the government's official website to allow Gurkhas that have served the nation a right to stay in the United Kingdom.[68]

No comments:

Post a Comment