Ex-Gurkha Soldiers Win Legal Battle

ANCHOR:
Former Gurkha soldiers who fought alongside British troops have been denied their right to settle in Britain. But a recent court ruling has given the Gurkha soldiers a win in the long-running battle for the right to retire in Britain. Heres more on the story.

STORY:
Gurkhas wave their regiment's flag outside London's High Court. Members of the unit, which fought for Britain since 1815, welcomed the decision to overturn a ruling that meant those who retired before 1997 had no automatic right to live in Britain.

All other foreign soldiers in the British Army can settle in the country after four years' service anywhere in the world. About 2,000 Gurkhas are affected by the current rules.

High Court judge Justice Nicholas Blake ruled that instructions given by the Home Office to immigration officials were unlawful.

Dozens of Gurkhas and their supporters cheer outside court, waving the regiment's green flag.

[Martin Howe, Lawyer]:
"Today is a wonderful, terrific victory day for the Gurkhas of Nepal. It is a victory for common sense; it is a victory for fairness. It is a victory that is right.

Actress Joanna Lumley, whose father fought with the Gurkhas in Burma during the Second World War, celebrates with the former soldiers outside the court.

[Joanna Lumley, Actress]:
"It gives our country a chance to right a great wrong and to wipe out a national shame that has stained us all. Today means that we can at last have this unlawful ruling overturned."

After the ruling, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the rules would be rewritten.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• gurkha
• soldier
• british
• troops
• military
• retirement
• london
• immigration

[bondsan]

All ex-Gurkhas who have served more than 4 years in the British Army will have the right to settle in the UK if they wish, those who have fought and been prepared to die for our country should have the the right to live in our country. We owe them a debt of honour - a debt that will now be paid.

[tombiddles]

our country lets somalian drug dealers and dangerous eastern european pimps and their families into our country but do not allow people who have fought and died for it in.

THAT IS THE ISSUE!

i believe that the ghurkas are as british as you or me!

[jmgt35]

@sweetypie000 um, YEA you're supposed to like them being in your fucking country IF THEY FOUGHT IN YOUR FUCKING ARMY..otherwise, no, they shouldnt imigrate to Britain, only if they fought for your military, just like in America, the only mexicans i like immigrating to my country are the ones WHO FIGHT FOR OUR ARMY..then its obviously ok for them to settle in America..they deserve that right, as do their families

[sweetypie000]

@jmgt35 You are clutching at straws and its clear you don't like mexicans in your country at all but i'm supposed to like the nepalesse in my country taking homes and socail benefits right ?

you are a fool

[jmgt35]

@sweetypie000 NO, they shouldnt apply to be soldiers, but if for whatever reason they become soldiers, citizenship for them and their families is the LEAST the U.S. can do for them in return for their service. yes,mexicans would love to serve for us, but we shouldnt let them serve unless our country is in an emergency and needs soldiers..in the case of britain, if you dont like them in your country, maybe you shouldnt have let the nepalese serve in the army in the first place..BUT YOU DID

[sweetypie000]

@jmgt35 i think Mexicans should apply to be soldiers in the USA so their entire familys can become citizens. Why no ?? you seem to think it's 'OK' for it to happen in my country.

Seems to me many many mec

xicans wold love to serve in the army for citizenship and for their familys to get a passport - do you disagree ? you should write the Obama and tell him or ush for it to happen seeing you have a vested interest in immigration and see how you like it

[jmgt35]

@sweetypie000 Mexicans shouldn't be granted the right to become US soldiers unless we really need them, they should instead join the Mexican army if they wish to serve, and better their own country rather than someone else's.. and i am indeed against immigration. however, if for some reason they do end up in the army, even though i am against them having the right to join, they will have my upmost respect, and they and their family deserve US citizenship, just like ex-gurkhas deserve it in UK

[sweetypie000]

@diliprai trouble is with places like nepal is the british have had to take charge because the locals dont have a clue.

Want an example ? South Africa. The black can work on the land but he has zero idea on how to use it and keep it fruitful hence mpst farms the whites ran are now deserts and the people are starving.

prove me wrong but I am right. The worst thing robert mccabe did to his own people was evicting the whites.

learn from history, boy.

[sweetypie000]

@diliprai tut ! give them an inch and they want a mile.

be lucky for what you have because you might go making demands in the wrong country and then you'll really see justice

[sweetypie000]

@Ganeschar wow, you'd think being attached to the greatest army in the world with connections to the queen of England, decent barracks to live in, best training, best medical care, best pension scheme, best food to eat and a very decent wage means they are some how unjustly treated and deserve JUSTICE ? Do you know how stupid and pathetic you sound?

try going to nepal and see what they offer you jobwise and accomodation wise.

people need to wake tfu and smell the java