Ex-Gurkha Soldiers Denied British Residency

[Coventina]

Source: New York Times

LONDON (Reuters) — British immigration officials told former Nepalese Gurkha soldiers on Thursday that they could not stay in the country despite a government pledge to relax rules limiting how many could retire here.

Gurkha soldiers have fought for Britain since 1815, and they still go into battle with traditional curved Kukri knives. Their advocates say they should have the same settlement rights as other overseas troops.

Opposition politicians said that letters had been sent to five Gurkhas rejecting their settlement applications, despite the government’s promise to be more accommodating.

The Home Office, or Interior Ministry, said the rejections were a legal formality and that the former soldiers’ cases would be reconsidered.


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/08/world/europe/08ghurka.html?ref=world

[Captain Hilts]

1. That stinks. Filipinos in the USN get US citizenship. They've earned it. Liz & Phil will be ticked.

[Kutjara]

2. Joanna Lumley (Patsy Stone from "Ab Fab")...

...is a vocal advocate for Gurkha settlement rights. She had a messy public spat with the UK Home Secretary yesterday in the halls of Parliament, which forced him to call a hasty press conference and issue the "we'll review the cases" statement.

Go Patsy!

[Captain Hilts]

4. Cool. I don't think this will be a tough fight. nt

[truebrit71]

3. This is an absolute travesty of justice...and more proof that Brown and his ilk..

..are seriously out of touch...

[Captain Hilts]

5. Liz or Phil need to pick up the phone and set him straight on this one. nt