London, Dec. 08, 2004
IANS
Kathmandu,Nepalese employed in the British Army will enjoy relaxed
immigration procedures if they were discharged on or after July 1, 1997,
and have served at least four years.
British Gurkhas had been fighting to be able to go to Britain after
the end of service, take up new jobs and apply for naturalisation if
desired.
Pressured by a media campaign at home and legal action by the Gurkhas,
British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced in September that changes
would be made to immigration rules in favour of the soldiers.
However, the British government decided to have a cut-off date for
the new relaxations.
The home ministry said only those who had been discharged on or after
July 1, 1997, and had served at least four years would be entitled to
the relaxations.
The home ministry said it had chosen the cut-off date since that was
when the Gurkha headquarters moved from Hong Kong to Britain as British
immigration laws normally grant settlement on the basis of residence
in Britain.
The announcement, however, failed to pacify the Gurkhas, who called
it a move to divide them.
The Kathmandu-based Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Association (GAESO),
which has been fighting a spate of cases in London on behalf of vets,
said it would start newer suits to have the cut-off date removed.
Currently, GAESO is campaigning in three western districts in Nepal
to mobilise support from former soldiers.
However, in a letter dated Nov 9, the British Home Office has informed
GAESO that even the cases of soldiers discharged before 1997 would be
considered on an individual basis.
According to Ian Newman, policy advisor at the Home Office, the British
government, in recognition of "the valuable contribution made by
Gurkhas to our country, all applications from Gurkhas discharged before
July 1, 1997, will be considered on their individual merits and discretion
to grant settlement will be exercised in appropriate cases".
Some factors that will determine such applications are the time the
applicant spent in Britain, the presence of close family members there
and chronic medical condition, Newman said.
While calling the decision positive, GAESO said it would continue its
campaign.