NEPALESE DAY FARNBOROUGH TECHNICAL COLLEGE 15 JULY 2008
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The first ever 'Nepalese Day' was the grand initiative of Farnborough Technology College, Farnborough Hants. The whole day was dedicated to educate the staff on Nepalese culture Separate stands were organised with a variety of briefings on Nepalese culture, cuisine and cultural show. BGWS was invited to give a briefing on BGWS, the Society's involvement with the local authorities and partnership in culling the local youth problems.

The Chairman Major (retd) Tikendra Dal Dewan and PR rep Mr Prakash Gurung represented BGWS. For a three hour session subdivided into an hour for each group the Chair gave a very successful briefing which involved very interesting questions raised by the audience ranging from lecturers to office staff.

In the afternoon Captain (retd) Rajendra Gurung (BGWS Rushmoor Borough Leader) led the culltural show conducted by Mr Som Rana, Krishna Gurung, Ramdhan Rai and Sanker Rai. Our children's graceful steps held the Theatre packed audience in awe, mention here must be made of three local students from FTC's excellent performance to a Nepali song.

Though at times bombarded by the air show, the spirit of the day did not falter and the event culminated with a briefing by the Himalayan Trust who raised money for their Charity established by the late Sir Hillary our Everest hero for our Sherpas in Nepal!

Prakash Gurung
PR
British Gurkha Welfare Society

BGWS INVITED BY THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY AND LORD LEE (LIB DEM) TO AN INFORMAL MEETING LEADING TO THE HEARING ON 4 JULY 2008
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The Conservative Party invited the Chairman BGWS Major (retd) Tikendra Dewan at the Porticullus House, Westminster to discuss Gurkha issues. The meeting was scheduled for 1430 hours on 24 June 2008. The Chairman accompanied by Prakash Gurung (PR, BGWS) was received by Dr Andrew Murrison MP. Prior to the meeting the BGWS team had a brief introduction with Rt Hon David Cameron. This was followed by an informal meeting led by the Defence Front Bench team Dr Andrew Murrison MP, Rt Hon Gerald Howarth MP and Home Affairs Front Bench Damian Green MP.

The Conservative party are supportive but were seeking facts and figures. The recent high cry for settlement rights and the Bill hearing in the House of Lords on 4 July 2008 for the pre 1 July 1997 discharged personnel on this subject matter has misled the political parties into assuming ‘settlement’ is the only issue which remains unresolved. BGWS clearly explained while it supported the settlement rights to be extended to those discharged prior to 1 July 1997 the Society’s main objectives were :

a. To clear its 292 pre July applicants who applied for settlement prior to the close of the 2 year window granted by the Home Office; all applications are pending an appeal date.

b. Equal pensions for all Gurkhas in line with the rest of the British Army.

BGWS informed the team, all amicable approaches being unsuccessful has compelled the Society to take the legal route and it now awaits a date for a Judicial Review. While the outcome of the recent Judicial Review raised by three individuals (post 97 Gurkhas) against MOD remains pending, this does not include the pre 97 personnel. The result of this Judicial Review will have some bearing on the BGWS case - which enwraps all Gurkhas irrespective of their discharge date, a difficult challenge but nonetheless based on the virtue of ‘one for all and all for one’. The Conservative team were very hospitable and the points raised by BGWS were warmly received.

This was followed by a very crucial meeting with Lord Lee of Trafford (Defence Spokesperson in the House of Lords for the Lib Dem) who invited the Chairman BGWS to the House of Lords to elaborate on the Gurkha problems and a check on facts and figures prior to the Gurkha Settlement Bill hearing led by him. The informal meeting between Chair BGWS, Lord Lee and Prakash Gurung (PR, BGWS) took place at the terrace of the House of Lord, the most scenic point in the House. The meeting progressed with a welcome cup of coffee. Lord Lee made it clear the only issue for the hearing was ‘settlement’ rights to be extended to all Gurkhas. BGWS expressed its full hearted support but reminded the all important issue of Pensions which remains unresolved and why BGWS were compelled to walk the legal path. This was an opportunity where BGWS were able to provide some vital information to support the hearing, while Lord Lee has kept an open line for any additional suggestion the Society may come up with.

From both the discussion the crucial pin to any decision seems to be led by budget and if the door was opened to one and all how many envisaged seeking settlement in the UK. Calculating the outflow from 1948 to 2008 which totals to 36522 (of which 2629 are post 1997) and estimating death, old age and some preferring not to take up the offer a guesstimate of 25000 (maximum) was the figure provided by BGWS. The Society also provided the Conservative team with a chart highlighting the massive difference between GPS and AFP 75.