Gurkha Justice petition and Rally Thursday 20th November

On Thursday, theres a rally in Parliament Square, Westminster at 11am before handing in the Gurkha Justice petition.

Rob White (pictured) from the Reading Green Party took up the cause of Gurkha rights, a few moinths ago (http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/2008-09-07-gurkhas.html), they are unfairly discriminated against. For people that have put their life on the line this is indeed shabby treatment. Thanks to Rob the Green Party have an emergency motion calling for them to be treated more fairly.

On Tuesday 30th September, the High Court ruled their treatment had been unlawful in terms of the right to live in the UK if they retired before 1997. Following that fantastic High Court decision, the Government has to change the law on how it treats Gurkhas. We demand the full, fundamental change in law that will allow all retired Gurkhas the right to live here.


There has been support from across the country, and the petition will be one of the biggest ever collected in the country - in a little over six weeks. Thank you so much for the support. The team are sorting the petition ready to hand in, but they tell me any signatures up until Wednesday night will be included. A really big last burst of signatures would be fantastic - please remind any friends, family and colleagues to make sure they sign at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk before 9pm on Wednesday!

I really hope that, on Thursday, the Government will finally bow to the pressure from our thousands upon thousands of petition signatories from across the country, to the Home Office Select Committee, and to the High Court, all of whom have backed justice for Gurkhas.

If there was ever a time to stand with us, then that time is now.

A really big turnout on the day will add to the pressure of the petition. It will show how strongly we all feel about righting this wrong. If you can come along to Parliament Square in Westminster by around 10.30am on Thursday 20th November, I would simply love to see you there.

We will be joined by a number of the real stars of the campaign themselves - the ex-Gurkhas who have served our country so loyally. Amongst them will be Honorary Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun VC who served with my father, and who has been such a huge inspiration to the campaign.

At around 11am Joanna Lumley will say a few words in Parliament Square, joined by other members of the Gurkha Justice Campaign and some special guests are joining us from Parliament. After that, a small delegation will go to Cenotaph and lay a wreath, before going on to Downing Street to hand in the petition.

Finally, a return to Parliament Square to thank ALL those who have come to show their support. That will take some time - on Thursday there will be people that have helped the campaign from across the country.

So, I hope to see lots of support on Thursday, and that you can make one final push to encourage EVERYONE you know to add their name to the petition at www.gurkhajustice.org.uk before 9pm on Wednesday.

Onwards! One last big push for our Gurkha heroes, and I hope to see you on Thursday.



With warmest good wishes,

www.gurkhajustice.org.uk