For over 200 years Gurkhas have been recruited from Nepal to serve in the British army (a simplification glossing over the unlamented British Empire days) and whenever sent into combat have never failed to distinguish themselves with their bravery and ferocity.
Last year our government ruled that any serving after 1st July 1997 (when their base was moved from Hong Kong to the UK) should have the right to live here. The others never having lived here should be denied this right, it was OK for them to serve in our army and be killed/wounded for the aims of the UK government but not to live here because “they had no strong ties to the UK”.
Yesterday, common sense prevailed and 5 of them won their case in the High Court, it should never have come to this. I would like to think that our government will now do the honourable thing and allow all who want to come here to be admitted, but I will not be holding my breath.
If there is a way to weasel out of what should be a firm commitment then this government will find it, just ask the police officers of England and Wales.
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2 comments:
I'm glad the U.S. is working to expedite the citizenship process for non-citizens who serve in our military. You'd think they'd deserve it, eh? Guess it is a similar situation with the Gurkhas.
Oh, and the article about the re-thinking of the pay raises...bad, very bad.
rt, Very true, and the whole pay rise thing is v bad - at least the Scottish ones got the rise in full.
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