Ex-Gurkhas Association(GAESO)announces protest for equal rights despite the U.K. MODs Pension rise

March 25, 2019

Kathmandu : Ex-Gurkhas Association (GAESO) has announced that the retired Gurkhas will keep fighting for better pensions despite a £15m top-up from the Ministry of Defence (MOD)

Following Gurkha campaigning, in March 2007 pension rules were changed so veterans who retired after 1997 got equal pensions to other UK service personnel.

But those who retired before 1997 still get pensions that can be two-thirds lower than British soldiers.

Two week ago the MOD put an extra £15m into the pension scheme for pre-1997 Gurkhas.

The move does not bring pensions for older retired Gurkhas up to the level of equivalent British soldiers.

Organising a press meet in Kathmandu today , Ex-Gurkhas Association (GAESO)has announced various stages of the programs of agitation in order to demand equal rights similar to their British born colleagues.

The committee has announced to start their protest criticising the new pension rise package of British Government as a move against the agreement with Gurkhas.

GAESO has announced various stages of the programs of agitation in order to demand equal rights similar to their British born colleagues.

The committee has announced to start their protest criticising the new pension rise package of British Government as a move against the agreement with Gurkhas.

GAESO has announced a three month long protest for the equality in pay and equal facilities to the Gurkha Veterans compared to heir British counterparts.

GAESO President Krishna Kumar Rai said that as part of the agitation, the organisation will present a memorandum to the British Prime Minister, hold demonstrations outside of the Prime Minister’s Office and organise rallies in different parts of the UK.

It says that the organisation will announce more stringent protests if its demands are not met by June 1.

The protest program announced by GAESO are as follows :

In U.K.

1. Submitting a memorandum to The U.K. PM May .

2. Demonstration in front of Prime Ministers office .

3. Interaction with MPs in U.K. and requesting to endorse the Gurkhas proposal in Parliament

4. Interaction in Gurkha issues in Key cities of U.K.

5. Informing the international media about the Gurkhas issues.

6.. interaction in U.K. with local human right activists and lawyers.

7. If the issues are not addressed announcing another strong protest.