Will Joanna Lumley destroy the Gurkhas?

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captain marbles

One aspect of Joanna Lumleys' fight for the right of Gurkhas to have unlimited right of residence in this country that hasn't been examined as far as I can find is the effect it will have on the Gurkha regiment itself.
The current Nepalese government has stated that it wishes to end the practise of Gurkhas serving in the British and Indian armies because it regards the practice as "slavery". The only reason that it has allowed the practice to continue is because of the amount of money that serving Gurkhas send back to Nepal and the pension money received by former Gurkhas. If this money is cut off because Gurkhas take up the right to reside in Britain then this money will be cut off and the nepalese government will have no reason to allow its' citzens to serve in foreign armies.
Joanna Lumleys' campaign, which undoubtedly has moral right on its side, may end up destroying the very basis on which the Gurkha Regiment exists.
Sometimes the best of intentions has the worst of consequences.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Jen-StarMember VIP10 yearsModerator

Not all Gurkhas will decide to live here though, so the benefits wont be that different, also just because they live here doesnt mean they wont continue to send money home to relations.

5/11/093:32 AM

captain marblesMember

Good point Jenstar but there are already strong concerns being expressed in Nepal about what will happen.

5/11/093:43 AM

Former Member

It's a slavery that lots of their citizens wants though. The bar is set very high by the British army and people still travel for days sometimes to get to a selection event.

The current government over there is a oddball one anyway. I wonder if 'slavery' is some sort of pseudo-Maoist interpretation. I don't know if it's still the case but the British government used to supply quite a lot of aid to Nepal. If so then I wonder what their take will be on it if their government shuts the regiment down.

5/11/095:32 AM

EDWARDIAN LILMember

personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

5/11/095:41 AM

EDWARDIAN LILMember

or;

perhaps better still -

joanna lumley should have them all round her house to stay

celebs and politics

5/11/095:42 AM

DemantoidMember

I don't think it will change anything, except the right of Gurkhas to be treated better than slaves. They'll still be able to send money home, and not all of them will want to come and live here anyway.

5/11/095:46 AM

Former Member

quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

You make it sound like being sent to Nepal is a Bad Thing. It's lovely over there. I might even try to retire there when I'm older.

5/11/095:50 AM

Garage JoeMember

quote:
Originally posted by Daniel J*:
quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

You make it sound like being sent to Nepal is a Bad Thing. It's lovely over there. I might even try to retire there when I'm older.

You may wish to read this.....
http://www.google.com/hostedne...S-rAoJ3-NAUGw0y_gFzA

5/11/095:56 AM

EDWARDIAN LILMember

quote:
Originally posted by Daniel J*:
quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

You make it sound like being sent to Nepal is a Bad Thing. It's lovely over there. I might even try to retire there when I'm older.

twas a joke danny

5/11/096:03 AM

EDWARDIAN LILMember

garage joe is a bit of alright

5/11/096:04 AM

Former Member

Nepal's been in a low key civil war for years and I've been there lots of times during that period. I was there a couple of weeks before most of the royal family were killed and there just before the current government were elected in. I've travelled on the roof of a local bus, ducking electricity cables, and held a basket of live chickens on my lap on one journey. I've also camped in villages in the middle hills where the whole village has clustered for hours just to see what we're like and what we do. News reports like that make it sound like the place is in meltdown when the reality is much more politically mundane and much nicer to experience.

5/11/096:04 AM

Garage JoeMember

quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
quote:
Originally posted by Daniel J*:
quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

You make it sound like being sent to Nepal is a Bad Thing. It's lovely over there. I might even try to retire there when I'm older.

twas a joke danny

I'm sure that DJ was joking also

... or at least I hope that he was.

5/11/096:04 AM

Blizz'ardMember 10 years

quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

I think we should send her to the Middle East next.

5/11/096:07 AM

longcatMember

quote:
Originally posted by Blizzie:
quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

I think we should send her to the Middle East next.

I think we should put her in charge of politicians expenses.

5/11/096:15 AM

captain marblesMember

quote:
Originally posted by Daniel J*:
It's a slavery that lots of their citizens wants though. The bar is set very high by the British army and people still travel for days sometimes to get to a selection event.

The current government over there is a oddball one anyway. I wonder if 'slavery' is some sort of pseudo-Maoist interpretation. I don't know if it's still the case but the British government used to supply quite a lot of aid to Nepal. If so then I wonder what their take will be on it if their government shuts the regiment down.

I'm simply surprised about how narrow the debate has been The facts I've presented are out there with just the tiniest bit of googling required but none of the serious papers seem to be interested. I'm not sure about the aid issue, though, as you say it could have some bearing on the subject.
I'm still worried that we may end up doing the wrong thing for the rightest of reasons.

5/11/097:02 AM

LuxorMember

When this shambles has been brought to its proper conclusion, the government will disband the Gurka regiment citing cost savings but in reality it will be in spite because they did not get their way.

5/11/097:03 AM

Garage JoeMember

quote:
Originally posted by Blizzie:
quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

I think we should send her to the Middle East next.

On the other hand, perhaps that gadjie with the eye and hook who used to preach outside Regent's Park mosque, could have sought the help of Dame Helen Mirren?

5/11/097:05 AM

EDWARDIAN LILMember

these celebs are all so 'upemselves'

5/11/097:23 AM

captain marblesMember

quote:
Originally posted by Garage Joe:
quote:
Originally posted by Blizzie:
quote:
Originally posted by EDWARDIAN LIL:
personally i think that the gurkas should stay and joanna lumley should be sent to nepal

I think we should send her to the Middle East next.

On the other hand, perhaps that gadjie with the eye and hook who used to preach outside Regent's Park mosque, could have sought the help of Dame Helen Mirren?

I think Vanessa Redgrave's already got him. Dame Helen will have to settle for introducing us to Osama Bin Ladens' softer gentler side..

5/11/097:31 AM

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