PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 15 April 2008
STATEMENT READ OUTSIDE COURT, ON BEHALF OF BRITISH ARMY GURKHA IMMIGRATION APPELLANTS
I am Martin Howe, the solicitor acting for 2000 British Army Gurkhas who have been denied a right of settlement in the United Kingdom by British Visa Officials.
Today, at the commencement of the immigration test cases brought by my clients, the Gurkhas I represent have asked me to issue the following statement:-
“For nearly 200 years, the Gurkhas have served the British people heroically and loyally. Many of the brave soldiers I represent, their grandfathers, their fathers, their brothers and their uncles have spilt their blood and guts on battlefields across the world, defending British interests, the British way of life and the hard fought freedoms so enjoyed by the British people today. Many of the Gurkhas who have been forced to appeal have family members currently serving in the Brigade of Gurkhas, fighting to protect British interests in Afghanistan against the Taliban and in Iraq against insurgents.
At no point have the Gurkhas ever deserted Britain’s call for help and assistance, and during this country’s darkest hours the Gurkhas stood shoulder to shoulder with us as our most “faithful and loyal friends”.
The retired Gurkha soldiers who bring their appeals before the immigration court today, have sought to live in Britain because they love this country; its values; and its people. These exemplary veterans all joined the British Army because they wanted to stand up for British ideals, such as fair-play, equality and justice, and knowing full well that if called upon they would lay down their lives to protect the British people and our democratic way of life. Many of these men are decorated war heroes, and all have “exemplary” military service records. The Gurkha-Appellants include Lance Corporal Gyanendra Rai, who was savagely wounded by Argentinean shelling during the battle for Bluff Cove and, but for the brilliance of an army Field Hospital medical team, six pints of blood and the grafting of tissue, he came as close as is possible to losing his life fighting for Britain in the Falklands War of 1982.
However, because these brave soldiers retired from the British Army prior to 1st July 1997, the British Government has forced them to rely on an exercise of discretion by British visa officials when asking to come to the UK to live amongst us. The men have had to plead for the right to live in Britain, and have also had to pay £500 per visa application, when many of them have a paltry Gurkha pension worth less than £125 per month. Sadly, despite the fact that these brave soldiers have fought for this country and defended it without question or reservation, the British Government has refused our veterans the right to live in Britain. Our Visa Officials say that these retired Gurkha soldiers do not have “strong ties” to the United Kingdom.
Therefore, today, at the commencement of the long process of my clients’ immigration appeals, the British Army Gurkha veterans call on the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, to step-in and assist them in their hour of need. Many of the men whose appeals are now before the court are old, sick, and battle-scarred. Many need medical care which is simply not available in their home country of Nepal. Without exception, to a man, all these Gurkha veterans were willing to lay down their lives in the protection of Britain. Their only request, now that their days of active service are over, is that Gordon Brown stands up for the Gurkhas and instructs his ministers to allow all retired Gurkhas (regardless of their date of retirement) the right to live Britain and to bring an end to their degrading struggle for justice before the British courts. The ignominy of forcing these veterans to beg for the right to live in the UK is a stain on the moral integrity of our nation. Gordon Brown can cleanse the stain of injustice at the stroke of a pen and thereby repay the debt of gratitude owed to these men. They deserve nothing less.”
Martin Howe, Howe & Co Solicitors,
Outside Immigration Appeal Tribunal
15 April 2008.
