GURKHAS 1ST CLASS SOLDIERS, 2ND CLASS CITIZENS AND 3RD CLASS PENSIONERS

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Apr 2008

How much stronger can a tie with a country be than to risk your life to defend its residents?".

It is a national disgrace Gurkhas, Nepalese soldiers, who served in the British Army before 1997 are not being treated with the respect and honour they deserve. Denied full pension rights, denied the right to British Citizenship and facing deportation. Purna Gurung, 55 who served as a Gurkha in the British Army for 15 years (1971 - 1986) is to be deported.

Trudy Dean, Leader of the KCC Lib Dem Group asked Paul Carter, Conservative Group Leader and Dr Mike Eddy, Labour Group Leader to join her by adding their voice to the growing support for the Bill in the House of Lords to give Gurkha soldiers serving before 1997 rights to stay in this country and pensions equal to those of British soldiers.

Gurkhas who have served in the British Army after 1997 are given British citizenship and full pension rights but those soldiers who served before 1997, such as those who fought in the Falklands , have to apply and are liable to deportation. The 1997 date was introduced because that was when the Hong Kong based Gurkhas became a UK-based force on the handing back of Hong Kong to China.

Paul Carter agreed to support Trudy's request and said that the imposition of the quite arbitrary 1997 cut-off date 'defied rational justification'.

Dr Mike Eddy would not offer his support citing that it has been a long-standing policy of governments of all colours not to make retrospective adjustments to pensions. To make a special case for Gurkhas would have far reaching implications for other serving and former servicemen.

Trudy said "I am extremely saddened by Mike's stance on this important human rights issue for Gurkha soldiers many of whom choose to live in Kent. The Home Office has said that only these post 1997 Gurkhas were 'likely to have developed strong ties to Britain'. How much stronger can a tie with a country be than to have risked the loss of your own life to defend its residents?".

Additional information:

1. Details of the Trudy Dean's question and the two Leaders answer are available on the Kent Lib Dems website ' County Council Questions' page. www.kent.libdems.org.uk/pages/County-Council-Questions.html

2. Trudy attended the protest of 500 Gurkhas outside the Houses of Parliament on 19 March, when Liberal Democrat Party Leader Nick Clegg received long service and good conduct medals from Ghurkha soldiers protesting that the medals counted for nothing with the British Government. Nick Clegg went on to raise the plight of the Gurkhas in Prime Ministers Questions later that day. He said:

"Two hours ago a retired Gurkha soldier handed over this medal to me in protest at the Government's refusal to grant him British citizenship. Do you know what it means for a loyal British soldier to give up a medal that he won for his long years of service to this country?

"And can you explain to the Gurkhas why on earth you believe that Gurkhas who served in the Army after 1997 are worthy of British citizenship but those who served before that date should be deported?"

3. Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British Army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade. Since then, the Gurkhas have fought for the British all over the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them.

Soldiers who retire after July 1997 - when Hong Kong, the former base of the Gurkhas, was handed over to China - receive a pension on the same terms as the rest of the British Army. But those who retired before that date collect one-sixth of the amount received by a British soldier.

Peter Carroll, one of the protest organisers, said it was "morally outrageous" for people to serve Britain and then be told "they are not allowed to stay".

Chhatra Rai, General Secretary of the British Gurkha Welfare Society, said: "Every time the MoD [Ministry of Defence] makes an announcement over changes it says that Gurkhas are now being treated equally. But that is not the case when you look into it."

Gurkhas have fought for Britain since 1815 and served in conflicts including the Falklands and Afghanistan. They are now based at Shorncliffe near Folkestone, Kent.

Prince Harry was based with a Gurkha regiment during his time in Afghanistan last month.

Regarding pensions, Defence Minister Derek Twigg, MP said he recognised the professional service given by current and former Gurkhas.

"I believe that the terms and conditions of service for serving Gurkhas, and pensions paid to ex-Gurkhas are fair and recognise the changes to the Brigade of Gurkhas since 1997," he said.

4. A website has been created for people wishing to add their names to the Gurkha campaign. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Gurkha-soldiers/