Fed up with almost two centuries of discrimination, former Gurkhas are suing the British government over their jobs. The suit, brought by a group of former Gurkhas led by the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organization (GAESO), may end up costing the British Ministry of Defense £2 billion – about $2.95 billion -- and is the culmination of Gurkha protests that have been going on for years, including a march on Kathmandu in 1999.
Gurkhas are Nepalese soldiers who have served in elite infantry units in the British army. The arrangement was established in the early 19th century, the name Gurkha being an Anglicized version of the Gorkha district of Nepal. Most Gurkhas come from hill tribes, particularly the Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu and Sunwar peoples, who have been underrepresented in the Nepali government and whose languages are mostly Tibeto-Burman.
Gurkhas have earned quite a reputation through their service in the British military – they are world-renowned for their bravery and loyalty in battle. Legends of Gurkha deeds abound in military circles. Thirteen Gurkhas have earned Britain’s highest military honor, the Victoria Cross, since 1911, when local fighters were first allowed to receive the award.
Throughout their service however, Gurkhas have encountered discrimination through unequal pay, pensions, and a lack of other benefits accorded to their British colleagues. In the past, Gurkhas were even punished for speaking English and were pressured to practice Hinduism, despite the fact that most were Buddhist. Today, these soldiers still receive lower pay than Britons, with their pensions amounting to £60 or £70 a month, compared to £400 to £500 for British soldiers. In addition, their housing is not comparable to that provided to Britons -- most are only allowed to have their families with them for three years of their service.
For their part, the British government points out Gurkhas receive their pensions seven years earlier than British soldiers and defends its pay scale on the grounds that the cost of living in Nepal is lower. They also claim the pay rates were originally determined in order to deter Nepalese soldiers from abandoning the Nepalese army. In response to this argument, Philip Shiner, the founder of the British legal firm representing GAESO, states, “It’s very disingenuous and shocking for the UK government to say it’s cheaper to live in Nepal. A number of things are more expensive there -- unlike Britain, they don’t have a health-care system, for instance.”
Documents were lodged in the British High Court on May 8 in order to determine whether the Gurkhas have a case. The Gurkhas’ lawyers plan to present 20 test cases in order to show that their clients have been the victims of ongoing racial discrimination.
