I recently read with great interest and not a little misgiving, "One victory at a time" (#126) regarding the various court cases currently taking place in London regarding the Gurkhas. I would ask your readers to be aware of the potential serious damage that could be done to the hitherto exemplary name of the British Gurkhas and to the very close and valuable links that have existed between Nepal and the United Kingdom over nearly two centuries. As an ex-Gurkha myself, I know I speak for many former and current servicemen within the country who are very proud of our links with the British Army.

Although an integral part of the British Army, the Brigade of Gurkhas and we, the Gurkhas, are "different". We have our own Brigade of Gurkhas Standing Instructions (BGSIs), our own Records Office Instructions (ROIs), our own disciplinary code and Dress Regulations. The traditions and reputation of the Brigade of Gurkhas are unparalleled and it saddens me and many other Nepali citizens to think that this may be tarnished. The demise and possible end of this very special and cherished link between our country and the United Kingdom would be a tragedy for us individually and for our country.

In addition, the Gurkha Welfare Appeal set up initially by serving and ex-British Officers and, over the years, supported by many overseas organisations, has helped so many in Nepal who have fallen victim to natural disasters or poverty and found themselves in need of urgent financial assistance. Then there is the value each year of the "Gurkha connection" to Nepal's economy, currently around Rs 6 billion. It is the fourth largest foreign currency earner after donor aid, tourism and exports.

There are other countries where Nepalis earn salaries and gain no other benefits. The number of Nepalis seeking such employment continues to increase. There are countries like Brunei, Hong Kong and Singapore where Gurkhas are employed in the paramilitary, police forces or security forces, but they are always treated, and I believe rightly so, as a "special case". We simply are not the same as the nationals of the country in which we serve and we should be proud of that fact.

In terms of recruitment into the Brigade of Gurkhas, 22,000 vied for a further 230 vacancies this year. The Gurkhas continue to find this opportunity attractive and the terms and conditions acceptable.

J Basnet,
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