27/3/2008

Local News

Veterans protest at Westminster

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: Gurkha veterans and supporters stage a mass protest outside the Houses of Parliament to raise awareness of the issues

Nicky Monk reports

SOME 60 retired Gurkhas from Rushmoor joined a mass rally outside the Houses of Parliament last week to protest against their “unfair” treatment by the Government.
Representatives from the Aldershot branch of the Gurkha United Front were among some 2,000 Gurkha veterans and supporters protesting in Westminster last Wednesday, March 19.
Former Rushmoor Labour councillor, Alex Crawford, also joined the Rushmoor group and, along with Gurkha veteran Gyan Sherchan from Farnborough, met with Labour MP for Crawley, Laura Moffatt, to discuss the Gurkhas’ plight.
Also at the meeting was Tim Heaver, a Reading-based lawyer who helps Gurkhas with immigration applications.
What caught the media’s attention that day, however, was the 50 or so veterans who handed back their military medals.
They were returned to the Government via Lib Dem Leader, Nick Clegg MP, who is supporting the Gurkhas’ campaign for the same pay and pension entitlements as their British counterparts.
Nepalese Gurkhas have served in the British Army for more than 200 years but receive a monthly pension from £131 – compared with £1,000 for retired British troops.
Campaigners are also calling for the Gurkhas’ right to automatic citizenship – currently only available to those who retired after 1997.
Clegg, who has called the Gurkhas’ situation “a national disgrace”, confronted Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Prime Minister’s Question Time the same day, asking him to explain why Gurkhas who served in the Army before 1997 are not worthy of British citizenship.
The Prime Minister responded that the reason for the cut-off date was that 1997 was when the Gurkhas moved their base from Hong Kong to Britain.
Alex Crawford said: “The Prime Minister gave his usual stock answer, which was not surprising.
“On a more positive note, Laura Moffatt MP has agreed to take up the Gurkhas’ case with Defence Secretary Des Browne, and Foreign Secretary David Milliband.”
Gyan Sherchan told the Star he was encouraged by the turnout at the protest and the way it has raised awareness nationally.
He added that the Gurkha United Front leader was due to meet a representative from the Ministry of Defence at Whitehall on Tuesday (March 25).

First printed in: Surrey Hants Star