Peter Carroll takes National Gurkha Campaign to Cranbrook

9.04.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 19th Aug 2008

Lib Dem campaigner Peter Carroll took his national Gurkha Justice campaign to Cranbrook on Saturday. Gurkha soldiers who retired before 1997 are still threatened with deportation a situation which campaigners are fighting to change.

Peter Carroll said, 'I was overwhelmed by the positive support. Literally hundreds of people came to talk to us and sign our petition. People are genuinely shocked when they realise how badly we are treating these heroes. For example, Cranbrook residents were able to meet Madam Gurung who served 24 years in the British Army, has an exemplary service record and is now threatened with deportation. He is living 'on the bread line' in Kent. He is forbidden by law to work. All this because he retired before 1997.

Until as recently as 2004, all retired Gurkhas were expected to return home to Nepal. The Government then allowed Gurkhas who retired after 1997 to become British Citizens. The Government has done nothing for those that retired before 1997 and Gurkha pensions continue to be much lower than those paid to UK Forces.

The Gurkhas are launching a High Court case to be heard on 16th September 2008 which will challenge the legality of the 1997 'cut off' date. Additionally, a private members Bill is making its way through the Parliamentary process which, if passed, would allow all retired Gurkhas to live in Britain after their service. Campaigners are hoping to persuade the Government not to defeat the Bill.

Peter Carroll added, 'To add insult to injury, if a soldier from a Commonwealth country serves with British Forces they get citizenship after 4 years. How can it be right for the Government to turn its back on the hundreds of Gurkhas who have given us so much?'