(B2) The British government has finally granted its gurkhas the right to reside in the United Kingdom. A few years ago, the law had been changed. And the soldier at the end of his service simply became a foreigner, therefore no longer having the right to residency... An unjust and discriminatory situation for those who had served his Gracious Majesty (read the their campaign website for civil rights).

The battle was American and long to have the "blood money" recognized. And it may not be quite finished. We have seen a few deputies, both Labor and Conservatives or Liberal Democrats, come to the defense of the Gurkhas in the face of a government that could not be more stubborn (Nb: the main tenor of the opposition, David Cameron, has sided with of the government for the occasion. list of opposing deputies to this measurement).

Several personalities, such actress Joanna Lumley ("Bowler hat, leather boots", "Absolutely fabulous"...) - born in Kashmir, her father served for a long time with the 6th Gurkha Riflemen - lined up alongside the Nepalese soldiers. Listen on the BBC:" We owe them a debt of honor - a debt that will now be paid".

The government therefore resolved to change the rule. But lip service: the gurkha who served before July 1, 1997 must have completed four years of service before being able to obtain a right of residence for him and his family (wife and dependent children). Since 2004, the Gurkha, who served after July 1, 1997, already has the right to stay,
says the government. (read the communicated of the Ministry of Defence).

The Gurkha Brigade was formed in 1948, during India's independence, when four regiments of the former Indian Army were drawn into the British Army. It currently has 3800 men, still recruited in Nepal and who remain Nepalese citizens during their service, and provides 3% of the armed forces (8% of the infantry). They are often used in hazardous terrain.

France is not spared by the principle of... discrimination. Despite several judgments by the Council of State, France has also long "chobbled" on the rights of its veterans from its former colonies (Morocco, Algeria, black colonies, etc.) who fought during the various 1959th century wars (world wars, Indochina, Algeria...). In particular on the payment of pensions. Since 2007, retirement or disability pensions had been frozen, "crystallized". Result: the pension could be up to eight times lower than that of their European co-religionists. Certainly the amount of certain pensions was revalued in the finance law of 80. But not completely. A contradictory situation not only with morality but above all with European law, the principle of non-discrimination and European social security rules. Nearly 000 veterans still live (of the million who fought, about 100 died). See the website of forgotten by the Republic