Lumley returns

Gurkha campaigner Joanna Lumley is off to Nepal to continue her campaign for the soldiers' rights. Lumley will also visit Jhapa and Dharan to meet Gurkhas, Pokhara to hold talks with members of the charity the Gurkha Welfare Trust and also Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. She will also visit the British ambassador. Her successful campaign for the Gurkhas has made her extremely popular in Nepal and she is expected to receive a warm welcome. http://news.google.co.uk/news/url?sa=T&ct=uk/0-0&fd=R&url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gm3lcu9EiyS5TOst0XNrESAfZHTw&cid=1283287061&ei=vRZsStbdNKXLjAf-mZG6Dw&usg=AFQjCNFwkJuLvzBYuR8eoa9JGAZpW75hog

Nineteen not out!

Legendary Sherpa climber Apa completed his 19th ascent of Everest this morning, extending his own record for the number of summits. This amazing feat was to raise awareness of climate change's impact on the Himalayas. Apa Sherpa's expedition team collected rubbish from the mountain and spent around 30 minutes at the top of Everest, unfurling a banner saying "Stop Climate Change". http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jKo0nDn0AQAUS82q3qfbTR3q8efQD98AS6N80

The World's Highest Tweet?

A Northern Ireland man is hoping to send the world's highest tweet, but only if he makes it to the summit of Mount Everest. Gavin Bate, 37, from Belfast, has never reached the summit of the world's highest peak and is hoping this time, his fifth attempt, will be different. Using a satellite phone, he has been detailing his ascent to the summit on the microblogging Twitter website. His main aim is to raise money for the charity Moving Mountains, which he set up in 2001 to help build schools, hospitals and monasteries in both Nepal and Kenya. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/8054493.stm

Another political crisis in Nepal?

One year after elections and the abolition of the monarchy, Nepal has slipped back into its political turmoil that marked the country for over a decade. A detioration of relations between the former Maoist rebels turned politicians and the army led to the resignation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Also known as Prachandra, he stepped down after the president opposed his decision to sack the chief of the army. In response a group of political parties have agreed to form a "national government". http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8033198.stm

A victory for the Gurkhas?

The Gurkhas long battle for British citizenship took a positive step this afternoon, after a Liberal Democrat move to scrap new settlement criteria for veterans was backed in the House of Commons by 267 votes to 246. This will prompt a rethink of the widely criticised government proposals for former Gurkhas. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6193365.ece

Despite last-minute concessions that bought off some Labour MPs, a Liberal
Democrat move to scrap new settlement criteria for Gurkha veterans was backed in
the Commons today by 267 votes to 246, a majority of 21.
The decision is a massive embarrassment for Gordon Brown and the first defeat of his premiership. MPs gasped when it was announced, believing that the concessions by the Home Secretary would be enough.
Jacqui Smith promised to start a review of criteria by the summer, and said it was highly unlikely that any veterans whose cases were under review would be deported. But the moves were not enough and, amid delighted cheers from Liberal Democrat and Conservative MPs, the Government went down to defeat.
Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, said outside the House of Commons. "It's victory for decency, it's the kind of thing I think people want this country to do, that we pay back our obligation our debt of gratitude," he said. "It was great, great day for everyone who believes in fairness and decency in this country".
Mr Clegg, standing alongside the actor Joanna Lumley who has long campaigned for the Gurkhas, said the Government would now have to change its stance on the issue. "Now they've got a vote from MPs from all parties saying you've got to change this, think again, this is downright wrong. They will have to change it and change it fast,"
he said.
Earlier, Mr Brown faced pressure from all parts of the Commons at Prime Minister's Questions. David Cameron, the Conservative leader, Mr Clegg and Labour MPs pressed the Prime Minister to open the way for the entry of more soldiers.
Mr Brown insisted that 4,000 veterans and their families – a total of 10,000 people – would be allowed to enter, and contested claims by campaigners that the figure could be as low as 100. He said that public expenditure constraints had to be borne in mind, but that £1.4 billion had been put aside to meet the costs.
In an attempt to appease the rebels, Mr Brown said there would be regular reviews of the system and added that the Government was sympathetic to the Gurkha case, which would be looked at in the next few weeks. He also said that many of those being allowed in were below officer rank. But Mr Brown’s concessions failed to win over critics and defeat his backbench rebellion.
Andrew Mackinlay, Labour MP for Thurrock, said Gurkha soldiers were of “enormous benefit” to the UK. He told ministers it was inevitable the campaign to win better settlement rights would ultimately succeed. “Why don’t you embrace it now. If it was painted on your eyelids, you wouldn’t understand a just policy or a popular policy,” he said.
Mr Cameron said that recent changes to Gurkha settlement rules were “too restrictive” and did not honour the obligation to the soldiers or command public support. “Today is an historic day when parliament took the right decision. The government now have got to come back with immediate proposals,” he said in Parliament Square.
Although the vote is not technically binding, it comes as a serious blow to the Government.
The defeat comes less than a week after the Home Office disclosed new criteria for settlement claims for Gurkhas, which many had confidently expected would allow tens of thousands to settle in the UK. When the announcement was made
it was to general astonishment at the lack of generosity shown by the Home Office and cries of "betrayal" from supporters of the Gurkhas.
The new criteria was announced after the High Court had ruled that the previous rules were unlawful and should be reviewed urgently.
Under the new rules based on long service, bravery medals and service related medical conditions, campaigners for the Gurkhas said they would benefit no more than 100 of the 26,000 or so veterans. Settlers must fulfil one of three criteria: three years continuous residence in the UK, close family in Britain, a bravery award including VC, DSO, or MC, 20 years service or a long term condition caused or aggravated by service.
However, the Home Office insisted that it would allow 4,000 Nepalese soldiers who were discharged before 1 July 1997 in plus 6,000 dependents. There are 26,500 ex-Gurkhas receiving a Ministry of Defence pension in Nepal and until 2004 they were not allowed to settle in the UK. The ban was lifted for the Gurkhas who retired after July 1997, when the brigade HQ left Hong Kong but soldiers who retired earlier were only given the right to stay in Britain in very exceptional circumstances.
The Liberal Democrat motion pointed out that more Gurkhas had died fighting for Britain over the years than were believed to want to come to live here and called for a blanket settlement right.
Ms Lumley, whose father served in a Gurkha regiment, said: “Just before this vote was taken our spirits were nearly at zero. “When it came through... I can’t tell you the sense of elation, the sense of pride - pride in our country, pride in the democratic system and pride in our parliament."

Nepal - some facts

A useful summary of Nepal was published in today's Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/country-profile/nepal

Fiennes targets Everest ascent

He may have run seven marathons in a row, but Sir Ranulph Fiennes has yet to scale the world's highest mountain. He will be attempting to climb Everest for the third time, whilst making a TV documentary about the mountain. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/outdoors/outdoor-activities/5201438/Sir-Ranulph-Fiennes-unfinished-business-on-Everest.html