गोर्खाहरुका माग के के छन्?

Gurkha Satyagraha United Struggle Committee (UK)

11-16 St Peters Road Reading RG6 1NT

24 April 2013

Rt Hon. David Cameron MP

Prime Minister 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA

Dear Prime Minister

A FINAL PLEA FOR JUSTICE

Despite various diplomatic and political lobbying, and the submission of several petitions to your office, the Gurkhas’ campaign for justice has gone completely ignored.  With due regard to the excellent relationship between Britain and Nepal, and two hundred years of loyal Gurkha service to the Crown, we were hopeful that the on-going Gurkha issues would be addressed well before now.  It is the moral obligation of Britain to put right the historical wrong that has been done to the Gurkha pensioners.  The 21st century Britain cannot continue to ignore the very long and humiliating discrimination suffered by the ageing Gurkha pensioners and their families.  Along with the huge disparity in their service pension and other benefits the Gurkhas also suffer from unjustified reductions in their hard-earned years of Army service.  During almost two centuries of loyal service to the British Crown, when hundreds of thousands of lives were lost in defending this country, the old Gurkha pensioners and their families have experienced nothing more than misery and destitution. Surely this is not the debt of honour that every political leader in this country claim that they owe to the Gurkhas!  We have always opted for diplomatic and political solution to these issues.  However, like all previous UK governments, the current Coalition Government continues to ignore the plight of the Gurkhas.

It is very sad that the petition signed by over 111,000 British

subjects, which was submitted to your office in July last year, was considered not worthy of your attention - being passed instead to the Ministry of Defence, which continuous to oppose  the fair treatment of Gurkhas prior to implementation of Gurkha Terms and Conditions of Service 2007.  We have always believed that the British Public had a strong voice in this country and that the Government regarded the public petitions, with over hundred thousand signatures, a matter for debate in Parliament.  To our utter dismay, the Petition failed to attract the government’s attention it deserved, even though we were assured by your office that it would be given a fair scrutiny.

As the average age of our Gurkha pensioners is 75 years plus, there is a limit to how much we can do and how long we can carry on with our campaign.  It has been twenty long years since our campaign began, but sadly there has been no improvement in the lives of those old Gurkha pensioners who retired before July 1997; many of whom have died during this time.  Having sacrificed our lives for this country for the last two centuries, we are now prepared to sacrifice our lives for our sake.  We have been left with no choice but to take this course of action to make our voices heard in the halls of Westminster.

With the petition accompanying this letter we plead to you, one final

time, to look into our problems and address them as quickly as

possible before more old and frail Gurkha pensioners die without

seeing justice done.  Mr Prime Minister, we sincerely hope that you

will personally intervene to resolve the long outstanding Gurkha

issues without passing the responsibility to other Government

departments.

Should you wish to ignore our final plea we will be launching a relay

hunger strike, followed by a fast-unto-death protest from early

November this year.

Yours sincerely

Dr Ramnarayan Kandangwa

Gurkha Envoy

JOINT PETITION SUBMITTED BY GURKHA ORGANISATIONS

TO RT. HON. DAVID CAMERON MP

PRIME MINISTER ON 24 APRIL 2013

BACKGROUND

This Petition is submitted jointly by various Gurkha organisations

campaigning on behalf of Gurkha veterans, who served in the British

Army prior to the introduction of the improved Gurkha Terms and

Conditions of Service 2007 (GTACOS 2007).  They want to see the Gurkha

veterans receive due recognition for their unswerving loyalty and be

given equal treatment as their other comrades in the British Army in

every respect.

For almost 200 years Gurkhas have served the Crown loyally and with

great distinction in defence of British interest world-wide in the two

World Wars and other conflicts since, with thousands laying their

lives in the process.  Today, they continue to give exceptional

service, playing their part fully in every sphere of the British

Army’s life, be it as a regular in the wider army units or in one of

the units of the Brigade of Gurkhas (BG) itself.

DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT

However, Gurkhas who served in the BG prior to the introduction of the

new equitable GTACOS 2007 were widely discriminated financially,

emotionally and socially by the British Government.  Gurkhas were

treated very differently from the main stream army in every way,

despite the assertion that BG was an integral part of the British

Army.

Gurkhas received very much lower financial rewards for their service

compared to their British counterparts.  Pensions continue to be

particularly poor and are linked to the Indian Army pension awards,

and paid in Indian Rupees, for the pre-1997 retirees.  For post-1997

retirees qualifying to join the Armed Forces Pension Scheme 1975 (AFPS

75), in calculating pension awards up to 36% of their service prior to

July 1997 has been discounted.

            Length of service for the majority was limited to 15 years

and every Gurkha was discharged in Nepal.  Living accommodation for

single soldiers and family quarters for married soldiers, as well as

Messes for Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and Junior Ranks, were

all of poor quality, sparsely furnished and cramped.

            For those below the rank of Colour-Sergeant married

accompanied service was restricted to one two-and-a-half years slot in

their 15-year service.  This meant extremely long separation from

families for these young men.  Although a 6-month Nepal leave was

given every 3 years, they were unpaid.

            The British Government always shows its trump card - the

so-called Bilateral Agreement between Britain and India - to justify

its ill-treatment of the Gurkhas to its full advantage.  It is worthy

of note that Indian Gurkhas on the other hand are always treated on

par with their Indian counterparts.

CURRENT TRENDS

Since 2004 with the changes to immigration rules for Gurkhas, the UK

is seeing a steady influx of retired Gurkhas and their families coming

to settle here.  A majority of these are the old veterans who either

depend on welfare pensions (average age 75 years) or receive a very

small pension.  Regardless of their position, they are unable to cope

in the hills of Nepal, where health facilities are either sparse or

unaffordable, and come here instead to seek better living conditions.

            Having arrived in the UK the government has to provide the

normal benefits, as well as housing, NHS and children’s education at a

significant cost to the tax payer.  It is estimated that meeting these

costs amount to at least three times more than increased pension

payouts.

            To add more financial burden to the Government, the older

veterans will need care homes to cater for their special needs in the

not-too-distant future.

ACTION REQUIRED

            This Petition details five prominent issues which require

the Government to take swift action to resolve.  These issues relate

to Gurkhas pension, preserved pension for Gurkhas who were made

redundant without a pension, compensation, UK settlement visas for

adult children and health facilities for veterans in Nepal.

            It is recommended that the current Coalition Government

should immediately set-up an All Party Parliamentary Committee and

seek consensus of Nepalese Government to resolve the grave issues

highlighted herein honourably and expeditiously.

ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED

Pension

Current Situation

Gurkha pensions are based on arbitrary and immoral rules.  As an

example, a Gurkha retiring as a Major with 35 years’ service receives

less pension than a British (or Commonwealth) soldier who has

completed only 22 years of service.  This anomaly cascades all the way

down to the private soldier.

Furthermore, post-1997 Gurkhas have suffered unfair reductions in

their Army service when they opted for the AFPS 1975.  Only 23%–36% of

their pre-1997 service was counted as pensionable.  This was based on

the immoral reasoning that Gurkhas were homed-based outside the UK -

mainly Hong Kong.

What is needed

            The pensions paid to the Gurkhas should be increased on

par with that of the British (and Commonwealth) nationals in the

British Army.  This could be achieved by giving Gurkhas a

“proportionate pension” based on their length of service.  Based on

this principle, if a British Army soldier with 22 years of service

gets £x per month in pension, a Gurkha soldier with 15 years of

service should get (15/22) x £x a month.

            The Government must recognise Gurkhas’ service in full

regardless of when or where they served in the British Armed Forces.

            To compensate for the discriminatory pension awards, all

Gurkha veterans should be paid retrospective pension, dating back to

their date of discharge, as the Tripartite Agreement was signed way

before any laws on retrospective pensions were introduced in the UK.

Why it is needed

            The payment of proportionate pension to Gurkhas means a

sustainable livelihood in their own country resulting in less

migration to the UK.

            Evidence shows that the older veterans, with their limited

knowledge of the English language and deeply rooted cultural

attitudes, feel isolated and do not really enjoy life in the UK.  Had

their pension been sustainable they would return home voluntarily.

            Thus, in the medium and long term raising Gurkha pensions

will also take substantial financial burden off the UK Government from

areas such as housing and other benefits by significantly reducing

Gurkha migration to the UK, and with the return to Nepal of most

Gurkhas already settled here.

Compensation

Current Situation

Gurkhas were paid extremely low rates of pay and allowances during

their service compared to the British (and Commonwealth) soldiers in

the British Army.  Gurkhas were given despairingly low payout packages

during redundancies and normal termination of service. Gurkhas were

denied decent family lives, with a one-off 2.5 years “family

accompanied tour” for the majority, as their service was terminated at

the 15-year point.  The consequence of this was major cause of

distress and family break-downs for many Gurkhas.

What is needed

For these, inappropriate and discriminatory payments, policies and

inhuman emotional anguish Gurkhas should be paid financial

compensations.

Why it is needed

            By giving compensation Britain would acknowledge its

wrong-doings and honourably fulfill its obligation and debt of honour

to the Gukhas.

Preserved Pension

Current Situation

            British (and Commonwealth) soldiers who serve for at least

two years receive a preserved pension at the age of 60.  In the case

of Gurkhas, there is no provision for preserved pension. There are

thousands of Gurkha veterans who, despite having served for up to nine

years, still live without any pension.  These form bulk of the Gurkha

Welfare pensioners who are struggling to make ends meet, with most of

them living in destitution.

What is needed

            Gurkha pensioners with more than two years service must be

awarded preserved pension like that paid to their British (and

Commonwealth) counterparts.

Why it is needed

            The majority of the Gurkha Welfare pensioners are those

who were made redundant without a pension.  They are also the ones

facing extreme hardship back in Nepal.  They are the ones who will

most want to come to the UK because of the difficulties they face in

Nepal.  In their old age many would return to Nepal to live in dignity

if they were given a worthwhile pension.  This would save the

Government more money than having to settle them in the UK with all

the benefits they are entitled to when settled here.

Gurkha Adult Children

Current Situation

            Only in exceptional circumstances are adult Gurkha

children permitted to settle with their parents in the UK.  These

children, now over 18 year olds, were not born over aged!  Had Gurkhas

been allowed to settle in the UK under similar conditions as other

Commonwealth nationals, many thousands of Gurkha children would have

had the opportunity to live, study and grow up in the UK.  In short,

there has been “historic injustice” as recognised by the High Court in

its past judgement.

What is needed

            Gurkha children over the age of 18 years should be granted

UK settlement visas if one, or both, of their parent(s) are settled

here.

Why it is needed

The Nepalese people live in extended families.  Although the child may

have grown up, it is still fully dependent on its parents for many

things, not least for their cultural and spiritual guidance.  In

return, the Gurkha children also support and contribute towards family

up-keep and take care of their parents during old age, and never

consider putting them in care homes even if they could afford it.

Unlike Western culture, Gurkhas originate from a very inter-dependent

culture where the parents and children live together and help each

other throughout their lives. Hence, it would be culturally and

socially unjustifiable to disallow the children over 18 years to join

their parents in the UK.

            Furthermore, when parents die biological children must be

present at the funeral and to carry out the last rites.  Not even

close relatives are allowed to touch the deceased.  Those veterans

whose adult children have not been allowed to join their parents in

the UK face the difficult choice between wanting to remain relatively

secure in the UK and destitution in Nepal.

Medical Facilities

Current Situation

            Retired soldiers and their families can rely on NHS

facilities in the UK.  However, this is not the case with the Gurkhas

and their families in Nepal as there are no national health services

in the country.  Although the MOD provides some financial assistance

with medical treatment Gurkha veterans are expected to make

significant contribution towards the cost of treatment.

What is needed

            Government must look at providing extra funding, without

recourse to the Gurkha Welfare Trust, to facilitate free medical

treatment for Gurkhas and their immediate families.

Why it is needed

            National health services do not exist in Nepal and the

available medical facilities are basic.  Provision of free medical

facilities in Nepal will also encourage Gurkhas to return to their own

country and contribute to the society at large without their health

becoming an issue.

SUMMARY

            Gurkhas have been subjected to financial, emotional and

inhumane social discriminations for the last two-hundred years despite

BG being considered an integral part of the British Army, and despite

the fact that Gurkhas have given utterly loyal service and laid their

lives for Britain in major wars, conflicts and the most difficult

times.

            The low pensions and lack of facilities in Nepal are some

compelling reasons why many Gurkha pensioners have opted to come to

live in the UK in recent years.  This trend in Gurkha migration can be

greatly reduced by the uplift in pension award and the provision of

medical facilities for the treatment of Gurkhas in Nepal.  Such action

on the part of the Government can realize in significant savings when

compared to looking after the aged Gurkhas who come to the UK to seek

better standard of living.

            By addressing the issues raised in this appeal the

government would be fulfilling its debt of honour owed to the Gurkhas

for almost 200 years of unquestioning loyalty and distinguished

service for Britain.  In turn, the Gurkhas would be grateful to

Britain for its just and generous gesture to its loyal and faithful

friends.