UK denies full resettlement rights to Gurkhas

LONDON, April 24: The UK government refused to offer full settlement rights to all former Gurkhas on Friday despite a High Court ruling last year, in a move slammed by the Nepali ex-soldiers and their supporters. [break]

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The Home Office said it will only give 4,300 ex-Gurkhas settlement rights, falling short of campaigners´ demands that they be given to all Nepali ex-soldiers who retired before 1997.



"Over 4,000 ex Gurkhas and around 6,000 spouses and children will qualify for settlement rights in the UK," the Home Office said in a statement. A spokesman confirmed separately the figure would be around 4,300.



The ministry outlined a string of conditions, one of which must be met to secure settlement, including 20 or more years´ service or awards for bravery.



At the moment, only Gurkha soldiers who retired after 1997 -- when their base was moved from Hong Kong to Britain -- have the automatic right to stay permanently.

All other foreign soldiers in the British army can settle in Britain after four years´ service.



At a protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London following the decision, Gurkha veterans voiced their bitter disappointment.



Less than 100 Gurkhas would actually meet the criteria set by the government, campaigners said.



Ragprasad Purja, 43, who served with the Gurkhas for 17 years, said: "It is the saddest day for the Gurkhas and the saddest day for the British government.



"I cannot believe that this government made such a decision. I was proud of my service but now I am very sad."



Martin Howe, a lawyer representing the campaigners, pledged to continue the legal battle for full settlement rights.



"It is nothing short of scandalous -- all this does is insult the integrity of the men of the brigade," he said. "We are disgusted with what we see today."



Indian-born actress Joannna Lumley, whose father served in the Gurkhas Rifles and has been the public face of the campaign here, also voiced her disbelief at the decision.



"It is absolutely shocking, I can´t believe that an administration running our country now can come up with something like this," she said.



"They (the government) borrowed to bail out the banks, why not borrow one billion more to bail out the Gurkhas?"



But Immigration Minister Phil Woolas defended the decision, saying it honored "the service, commitment and gallantry of those who served with the Gurkhas brigade".



"Where there are strong reasons, there has been scope for Gurkhas who retired prior to July 1997 to apply to settle in the UK," he said.



"In fact, because of rules brought in by the government, we have already welcomed around 6,000 Gurkhas and family members to Britain."



The Nepali former soldiers have staged repeated protests seeking an injunction obliging ministers to implement a High Court ruling last September that approved extending the right to stay in Britain permanently to all Gurkha veterans.



Around 3,500 Gurkhas currently serve in the British Army, including in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 45,000 in total have died serving Britain.

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