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June 30 2009

Campaigners warn ex-Gurkhas “not to hurry” to UK

Gurkha campaigners are returning to Nepal to warn others off moving to Britain, as they believe our country isn’t yet prepared for their settlement.

The campaigners, including Joanna Lumley, will be meeting the Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, as well as many political party leaders, to gain support and raise awareness of the current situation in Britain.

Ex-Gurkha Gyan Raj Rai, who hasn’t seen his family for over two years, travelled to Nepal last night. He said: “I will be telling my countrymen not to hurry to the UK now. Hold on for another five or six months, then Britain may be prepared to cope with their settlement.”

“When the retired Gurkhas do come to settle, I will be telling them to come in batches, not all at once like refugees.”

Mr Raj Rai will also be spreading the news of how Joanna Lumley and the British public have helped them, and how there is desire to campaign for equal pension rights.

He said: “The Armed Forces Pension Scheme gives British ex-soldiers £900 a month. The Gurkha pension is only £150 a month. This is what we want to change.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has announced his support for the Gurkhas to receive equal pension rights.

He said: “All individuals who serve this country and put their lives at risk should receive a fair deal. This should be just as applicable to pensions as citizenship.”

Comment on pension rights here

June 23 2009

Gurkhas to be rewarded at Armed Forces Day

Retired Gurkhas will be presented with Veterans’ Badges this Sunday, as Reading celebrate their first Armed Forces Day in Forbury Gardens.

They will be rewarded, along with other specially chosen ex-soldiers, for outstanding service to their country. These men will feature in the HM Armed Forces Veterans’ Badge Presentation Ceremony.

Cllr Peter Beard, past Mayor of Reading, will be amongst those presented with the reward, for his years of dedication to the Armed Forces.

He said: “It’s absolutely wonderful that the Gurkhas, who have served long and hard for our country, are being recognised. I will be very proud to stand alongside these men on Sunday.”

Numerous musical displays will be taking place during the day, including Diane James, who will be performing as Dame Vera Lynn, and Reading Central Band of the Salvation Army.

Event organiser Jo Keen said: “We hope to convey the key messages set out by the Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Day, celebrating the achievements of the Armed Forces veterans who live and work in our communities. ”

Similar events will be taking place all over Britain this weekend, with the national event taking place on Saturday June 27 in Chatham.

June 16 2009

Ex-Gurkhas hunt for jobs

Retired Gurkhas attended a business networking evening held by Kinnarps in Fareham, as their hunt for jobs in the UK begins.

Local business people from across Hampshire and Dorset mingled with the ex-soldiers, who were exchanging their business cards now that they are allowed to find work in Britain.

Kinnarps, a Swedish office furniture solutions giant, hosted the event. They provided cheese, wine and a raffle, and the £100 raised from the tickets was donated to The Forgotten British Gurkha charity.

Chairman of The Forgotten British Gurkha charity Paul Keddie said: “The money raised will go towards hiring machinery to clear three allotments in Theale, near Reading, which have kindly been given to the Gurkhas to work on.”

ITV Meridian News were also present during the evening, filming the event for their evening programme.

Madan Kumar Gurung, one of the retired Gurkhas looking for work, made a brief speech to those in attendance. He said: “It is wonderful that so many of you are supporting the Gurkhas in finding work here in the UK. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”

Employees from local Grosvenor Casino, since meeting the Gurkhas at the Kinnarps event, decided to support them further. They are holding a celebratory evening at their Reading casino on July 1, to mark the retired Gurkhas’ settlement campaign success.

June 9 2009

Gurkhas appear on Jonathan Ross showlumley and gurkhas

Gurkha veterans were “thrilled” with their experience on the star-studded BBC chat show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.

Retired lieutenant Madan Kumar Gurung, 57, and retired corporal Chandra Bahadur Budhathoki, 55, were invited on the show along with Joanna Lumley, following their Gurkha settlement campaign success.

They mixed with American rock superstars The Killers and Catholic singers The Priests on the backstage sofa, whilst Ross quizzed Lumley on her work for the Gurkhas’ cause.

Madan said: “We had been watching the television show in our leisure time, but never thought we ourselves would be on it. I was thrilled.”

“My daughter in Hong Kong and my son in Nepal called to say they saw me on the show, and were very proud and happy to see me with Joanna.”

Ross, previously suspended by the BBC for making prank calls, received nothing but praise and admiration from the Gurkhas after their meeting.

“Jonathan makes everybody happy. He put his arms around us, cracked the jokes and was smiling all the time on and off camera. It was just wonderful” said Chandra.

Both Gurkhas said they left the London studio in a limousine with an experience they will never forget.