whats the news re Gurkhas?

[Nosha123]

Can someone explain to me what all the news is about the Gurkhas and Joanna Lumley....

I'm afraid i dont even know what a Gurkha is!!!!

Thanks

[Gromit]

In this instance, a Gurkha referes to soldiers who belong to the Gurkha Regiment in the British Army. 'Gurkhas are recruited in Nepal, a country between India and China.

Even though they fought in the British Army, they have no rights to settle in Britain. Joanna Lumley is campaigning to let them have that right.

[paraffin]

Nosha:

I take it that you're not British?

[VHG]

>Even though they fought in the British Army, they have
>no rights to settle in Britain.

Genuine question.

Do people from other countries join the British army ?

And if so do they get the right to settle in Britain?

[Nosha123]

no paraffin I am born and bred in UK.. just ignorant of who the Gurkhas are and not seen the news much this week so thought I would ask my good friends here to see if they could educate me a bit in the matter!

Sad but true - but hey we aint all perfect!!!

[Gromit]

VHG

I did notice in the list of soldiers killed in Iraq which was read out the other day, that there were several Fijians who had been killed.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3996677.stm

[Gromit]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/26/fijia ns-british-army-iraq

[McMouse]

I thought Gurkha was a small cucumber that came in a jar full of vinegar! Never heard of Joanna Lumley.

[Nosha123]

Nice one McMouse!! I like it!!!

[paraffin]

Nosha:

It was a genuine question - don't get upset. The fact is that this story about the Gurkhas has been in the national news for the last year or more since the actress Joanna Lumley, whose own father was an officer with the Gurkhas, started a campaign to try to win the rights for them to settle in the UK.

The Gurkhas, who originate from Nepal, have fought in various conflicts on the British side for the best part of 200 years, and have their own unit, the Brigade of Gurkhas, which is part of the British armed forces.

In a nutshell, the laws of the land have more or less prevented almost all Gurkhas from settling in the UK once their military service was at an end. They had to return to Nepal. It's a complicated matter and it came to a head again recently when the Government announced measures whereby, to a certain degree, some Gurkhas could live here, but not all. The matter has already been through the Courts and is still ongoing.

Only today Joanna Lumley has just had a meeting with the PM to discuss ways forward. Therefore the situation is still very fluid and far from resolved.

Hope this gives you some idea of what all the fuss is about?

[Nosha123]

Hi Paraffin... you misunderstand me... I AM ignorant of the Gurkhas!!!!!! Thats why I was asking as I dont know who or what they are.. Dont worry I;m not upset by your question!!!

I didnt study History at school (did Geog instead) and have not ever been much interested in the WW's... so was curious to know what all the fuss was about!!!!

;-)

[Nosha123]

Oh and thanks all for the history lesson!!!! Very interesting.. and now I know what its all about!!!! he he!!!!

[olddutch]

You're a naughty Nosha !!