KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 1
British Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen's Organisation (BGAE- SO), Singapore Gurkhas Department, today protested at Maitighar Mandala for equal payment and perks for Gurkhas serving in Singapore. They also raised the issue of discrimination and acts of human trafficking in the form recruitment in the British Gurkha.
The department protested against the changes effected by Singapore government at the expense of the Gurkhas who have enhanced Singapore's internal security.
The department protested saying that the Gurkhas' reputation of loyalty and bravery had been undermined even though they had been serving in the British Army and the Singapore Police Force for a long time. The department expressed its displeasure that the Singapore government did not recognise the contribution made by Nepali Gurkhas. The 'clarification of unclear identity' was the main demand of the demonstration.
Pal Bahadur Gharti, president of the Singapore Gurkha department of BGAESO, said we have been discriminated by British and Singapore governments.
We have been discriminated in multiple ways. We have been treated like commodities and we are not supposed to be treated like this. We do not blame the Singapore government, it is British government who recruits and deploys us in Singapore. So, the British government is the main culprit. So far none of the countries have shown any serious concern about our cause or done anything for us yet. But if it is going to be like this we will make our protest more rigorous.
Said Gharti Mani Sunuwar, vice-president of the Singapore Gurkha department of BGAESO, adding that Gurkhas were forced to raise their voice for equal pay and equality. He said that the department had submitted a 16-point demands to the British prime minister for its solution.
Although the department submitted 16-point demand to the British prime minister, instead of addressing them, the letter sent by the British Embassy in Nepal was irresponsible.
In the letter, the British Embassy said that this issue is between the Government of Nepal and the Government of Singapore.
In the demonstration, questions such as 'Are we British or Singaporean?' 'Who is responsible for us?', 'What is the role of Nepal government?', 'Aren't we enrolled under the tripartite agreement that provides for the recruitment of Nepali citizens into the British Army?' were raised.
The protesters also demanded equal wages and pensions compared to their British and Singaporean counterparts, pensions for Gurkha widows, work permits for Singaporean Gurkha couples, residential permits for Gurkha children after 21 years, family health services in Nepal and pensions and other compensation for Gurkhas who were returned empty-handed on grounds of unsubstantiated allegations.
Earlier, Chair of BGAE- SO-SGD Padma Sundar Limbu had said at a press conference that police personnel for Singapore were being recruited by the British government, but the latter was neither providing equal payment and perks nor providing right to settlement in the UK.
A version of this article appears in the print on September 2, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
