London: Nepalese Gurkha soldiers staged a demonstration in front of a landmark immigration tribunal here, which could decide whether 2,000 of the former British Armymen are allowed to settle in the UK.

About 15 Gurkhas gathered outside the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in central London yesterday, many wearing medals and Gurkha hats, where they pledged their allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and spoke of their love for the country.

The tribunal will determine whether the British government's entry clearance officers in Kathmandu, Hong Kong and Macau acted lawfully when they refused right of settlement in Britain to the British Army Gurkhas.

The outcome of the appeal of 15 soldiers and their family members could decide whether a further 2,000 Gurkhas could settle in the UK.

While current serving Gurkhas are almost automatically entitled to live in the UK after completing their Army service, Gurkhas who retired before July 1,1997 have to rely on the discretion of a British entry clearance officer to determine whether they should be allowed to live in the UK.

Corporal Ragprasa Purja, 41,who served for 17 years before leaving the Army in 2002,said: "We feel proud of this country, we have fought for this country, died for this country but the treatment we are getting is not what we deserve.

"We are here to get justice for the Gurkhas who are suffering back home. They want to come here and get equal rights with their British counterparts."

Purja, who handed his Long Service Good Conduct medal back to Prime Minister Gordon Brown last month in protest, said his 72-year-old father who also served was still in Nepal but wanted to come to the UK to join his family.
Source : PTI