25/10/2013

Gurkhas To Begin Hunger Strike In Pension Protest

Some 60 Gurkhas are preparing to begin a hunger strike in protest over the governments alleged refusal to give them equal pension rights.

At 13:00 today two Gurkhas will begin a hunger strike, followed 24 hours later by two more, building to a mass hunger strike on 07 November.

The Gurkhas have said that they are prepared to starve themselves to death unless there is a change to their pensions, bringing them into line with the rest of the military.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said: "Gurkha terms and conditions of service have always been fair.

"They have reflected the environment that the Gurkhas were in, and they have changed and improved over time to reflect the Gurkhas' changing circumstances."

(MH/CD)

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