Goverment desion a disgrace on Gurkha soldiers

Rogerdodger


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 15:15

This goverment decision means that only up to 100 Gurkha's meet the new critera, a cop out by the goverment, these soldiers serve the British goverment past and present with their lives and with pride, then they are treated so badly, the goverment should be ashamed and the jobs worth minister who made this decision should resign in discrace, or be sacked



RD

Codger


Joined: 03/04/2009
Posts: 153

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 19:12

I was with the the Gurkha's in Borneo and they are a proud and loyal people who have served the UK with distinction. They should have the same rights as the British Army and after their service be allowed without conditions to reside with their families within the UK.

The problem is that the jelly backbones who make the decisions have probably never served in HM forces which is why they are a bunch of wets with no respect for our Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors.



Grrrrr Codger

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:05

This is the problem with UK govt...and not just this one.







WE are all to blame - we want a govt to be tough on immigration and so they ARE...



They allow illegal immigrants to flood in and stay - then come down hard on the easy targets - legal immigrants who have contributed something.



MADNESS..



We allow Commonwealth soldier's who served four years to come to the UK and stop Gurkas who gave 20 years...

Dusterbruce


Joined: 03/08/2007
Posts: 1125

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:16

I cannot understand why they will not let the deserving Gurkhas in to UK but will let others in who are coming here to bomb us and preach hatred.

wynyardman



Joined: 15/12/2007
Posts: 4580

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:23

Wholeheartedly agree Rodgerdodger.



This Government are a National disgrace!



wyn

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:37

Totally agree with meg 3..........an absolute disgrace.

TheSaints



Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 1369

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:41

Same here, Msg 3 says a lot damn shame.



The Govt should be ashamed.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:49

Its not just this government Wyn,its all the parties who have ever ran this country for the past 200yrs. All of them get their priorities wrong,but in this case it is the biggest insult this country has ever given to a nation that has served us with honour and pride for little reward. I think I had better stop their or I may something I might get punished for...

fiendishpaul


Joined: 18/05/2008
Posts: 1720

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 21:53

Totally agree with all comments. I had the pleasure and honour of serving with the Ghurkas on numerous occasions including during the Falklands campaign. A proud, and more loyal race of people you would be hard pressed to find. It is a national disgrace that they are not allowed to settle with their families in the UK whilst every illegal immigrant and scrounger are handed everything on a plate. Makes my blood boil !!!!!

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 22:09

You know I really feel the govt have screwed up, here...



Not often I get worked up.. but here we go:



http://www.writetothem.com



Enter your post code - find your MP - and write something along these lines:



"I have NEVER written to my MP before - I am horrified that Gurkas - who have served our country - are being treated differently than other Commonwealth Soldiers.



YES, we would like better controls on Immigration - but the problem is with those who are plainly economic migrants - claiming "political asylum" NOT those who have contributed and even risked their lives.



Please stop trying to "pick on" the easy targets and concentrate on getting a system whereby illegal immigrants are dealt with - no more amnesties.





We intend to make the govt realise they are out of step with the public opinion on this and a QUICK rethink is called for - NOW.



Perhaps the govt might do something that shows they ARE in touch with the voting public."

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 22:12

might be a good idea to spell GurkHas properly in the letter :( .. sorry !

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2918

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 23:18

The most ridiculous thing in my opinion is that in Nepal it considered an honour to qualify for the British army as a Gurkha based mainly on the respect that the nepalese gained for the british in times past and now the british government are showing them no respect in return. I am disgusted thst this is the way the goverment thenks it will save some money but decides to help immigrants from other countries.

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 23:23

Lets all sign this.



http://www.gurkhajustice.org.uk/

barnaclebill


Joined: 12/12/2008
Posts: 303

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 23:34

Watched it on the news tonight absolutley disgusted with the British Governments decision.Msg 13 link surely deserves to be a sticky,please sign Joanne Lumleys petition.

proger1



Joined: 18/04/2009
Posts: 2918

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 23:43

Already signed !!!

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
24/04/2009 23:52

A national disgrace as you all say. Where is the respect for these proud people. I had the honour of organising a half marathon for charity and the regiment based in Brecon helped me and were on hand all the way. They ran and carried a torch for thier regiment all to raise awareness of the donor card. Fit as anything. A pleasure to have met and shared part of thier lives. Now ts my turn to pay back by signing the petition.Good on Jonna Lumley

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 00:11

An excellent link, Turtle... hassle your local MP, too - particularly if they are in Govt via the



http://www.writetothem.com



Nothing better than a full mailbag and nervous MPs frightened of losing their seats..

Rogerdodger


Joined: 24/04/2008
Posts: 271

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 10:29

Just signed up on the Gurkha website, that turtle sent out, all please sign up to back the Gurkha's campaign, they have a right to live in the UK, more than the bloody spongers that sneak in to the UK, and send all the money home.



Again the goverment is a discrace.



Wyn, good to see you back!



Roger

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 10:40

Hi Roger I have now signed. Pure Betrayal.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 11:57

I sometimes am ashamed to admit I am a brit....I have signed.

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 16:12

My MP has already replied :



Thank you for your email. I understand your anger and I believe that we

can still do more to help the Gurkhas. However I have actually read

that new arrangements and though they are complicated there is no excuse

for the campaigners to reject them out of hand and some in the press to

so deliberately mislead people. I find it more than ironic the same

media have no time for any else to immigrate into this country and

achieve residency no matter what service they have given to this

country. Contrary to what you seem to suggest the vast majority of

people who seek genuine asylum in this country are not economic migrants

- they have fled torture, trafficking and worse and are genuinely in

fear of their lives. I know, as I deal with these cases and I think it

a mistake to mix up with the Gurkhas case.



( cont)

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 16:13

Let me deal with your points. First your first sentence is apt -

according to new arrangements Gurkhas and former Gurkhas would be

treated more favourably than Commonwealth soldiers who would have the

same rights to residency. This cannot be right or fair and will have to

be changed.



Second this is not an easy target - the Gurkhas and their supporters

have run a very successful and sophisticated campaign. However if the

end result is that a very special category is created for one group of

people as of right I am sure other groups will wish to follow. I would

imagine that there will soon be a court case for those working in the

NHS or care sectors who could mount a challenge to any refusal of

residency. ( cont)

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 16:14

My main concern is however was what was advanced to me by Gurkha

officers some years ago - that this campaign could be counterproductive

and end the special relationship with that the Gurkhas have with the UK.

The reason for this is that up to this point Nepal has been very

favourably disposed towards encouraging their sons to serve in the

British armed forces. One very strong reason for this is the

remittances they send home and the fact that up to this point most had

retired back to Nepal. There is an estimate that this accounts for up

to 15% of the Nepalese GNP. The danger is that if this tie is broken

and many more Gurkhas choose to live in the UK then the response of the

Nepalese authorities and families left behind will be far less

favourable. Now this may be a wrong worry but it has been expressed to

me both by serving officers and former ones. ( cont)

mmmmmm



Joined: 19/12/2008
Posts: 8398

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 16:16

(cont)

That may not be reason for my favourable residency tests but it does

show the complexity of arrangements and why this has to be fair not just

to the Gurkhas but also to Nepal.



ENDS







I will reply - but I value your comment - the MAIN point I see is that he agrees the Gurkhas should be treated the same - but then tries to excuse the Govt decision ;o

bondi


Joined: 12/07/2007
Posts: 116

Message Posted:
25/04/2009 21:37

Watching the BBC footage of these proud Gurkhas being wheeled, to parliament the other night, I felt ashamed of our government, for producing a long and protracted rigamarole of criteria for who can or cannot live in the UK. Whilst there may be some concerns regarding (in postings 23 and 24) to see these elderly gentlemen sporting their medals - VCs as well, making representations on behalf, of those of them ,who wish to settle in UK, and cannot due to current regulations made me sick.



Whilst lawyers take up the Human Rights issues, of those who really have done very little for the UK and see us as some soft touch, whilst conspiring to work against the good of the UK, our government thought it right to turn their backs on those men who have fought alongside UK at every hositlity that has come UK's way. It would seem, if the media have got it right, that the only ones that would be eligible are those disabled due to conflict or those that pass the Officers' Mess test. Shameful!