Gurkhas protesting for pension equality opposite Downing Street have gazebo dismantled by Metropolitan Police
From Sky News yesterday
Gurkhas protesting for pension equality opposite Downing Street by staging a hunger strike say they have had their gazebo dismantled by police. Dhan Gurung, who is on day four of his hunger strike, told Sky News the incident happened on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to Kay Burley, he said the officers who turned up told them the gazebo they were using for shelter was “against the bylaws”.
But Mr Gurung said the protesters would remain in position on Whitehall, adding: “We want to carry on, we don’t want to give up.”
Gurkhas are Nepalese-born soldiers who have been recruited into the British army since 1815, fighting most recently in Iraq, Afghanistan and the former Yugoslavia. Very brave, ethical, loyal; much admired in British society.
In 2009,all veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years of service were allowed to settle in the UK. According to the Support Our Gurkhas website, the hunger strikers are campaigning for equal pensions for Gurkhas who retired before 1997 and are not eligible for a full UK Armed Forces pension. Gurkhas who served from 1948 to 2007 were members of the Gurkha Pension Scheme (GPS). 1 July 1997 is when the Gurkhas became based in the UK and no longer classified as a Far East-based force. The GPS was based on the Indian Army model and was designed for Gurkhas retiring back to Nepal, where the cost of living is much lower than in the UK. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Sky News on Monday: “We greatly value the huge contribution Gurkhas make to the British Army and ensure they are supported with a generous pension and medical care during retirement in Nepal.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “At approximately 9am on 10 August, police attended a demonstration on Whitehall after a group of protesters had erected a gazebo and camping equipment in breach of local bylaws. Officers engaged with the crowd and the gazebo was removed…”
This is a photograph of Mr Gurung, Guyanraj Rai and Pushpa Rani Ghale in their compound
Mr Gurang has a video on line of the police, mob-handed removing the gazebos yesterday. I have some stills from the video They also show officers snatching items of religious significance in their Buddhist faith, which had been attached to the gazebo poles, from the hands of elderly ladies.
You might be able to view the video at this link.
Friends were present later tha morning. I understand that the Ghurkas are undaunted and that supplies and equipment have been donated.
That they don’t have pension parity with other servicemen and women is in itself a disgrace. British ex-servicemen are not exactly showered with largesse and goodies at the best of times. This heavy handed treatment of peaceful loyal citizens by the Metropolitan police is appalling, especially compared with the respect and privileges they give to the thugs of BLM and the indulgence given to Extinction Rebellion.
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One Response
Why is common decency and fairness behavior in such short supply? If British honor is not a source of pride for British culture is it not at least a source of self-respect for British individuals? /// Perchance, are the Gurkhas the wrong skin color or other DNA defined characteristic? Where are all the other British military veterans supporting the Gurkhas?