Culture of morality
Very recently Emperor Akahito of Japan
visited United Kingdom on an official visit. All pomps
and shows were presented as per English tradition during
the visit of foreign Head of States. The Queen and the
Prime Minister and his government also extended best
possible hospitality to visiting Japanese Emperor. But,
the Ex-servicemen of British Army, who were Prisoner of
War (POW) during World War I and II in the South East
regions in Asia; protested the Royal visit for non
apology in public for the torture inflected on them by
the Japanese while they were POWs. They politely, but
disgracefully turned their backs and hooted out to
Japanese Emperor. It would have been treated as a crime
back home in Asia. But, in UK it was taken by the
government as their civil rights and were allowed to do
so.
The great Gurkhas of Nepal are still
serving British Army, as they are one of the best and
most reliable land Force. Until today, the Gurkhas
gallantly participated in all Wars - whether that was war
with Argentina in Falkland or in the Brunei or anywhere
else in the world. But they fought for the British Army.
They also duty-fully performed all other assigned tasks
during war and in peace. The British Gurkha saga became a
legend and history in Nepal. There are millions of
Nepalese that are related with this Gurkha saga.
Thousands of them are in Nepal spending retired life and
few thousands are in British Army working as active army
life.
The Gurkhas get almost nothing after
their retirement compare to their British counterpart.
The former Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba
initiated the issue and convinced the then Major
government in reconsideration of allowances. Recently the
British government has decided to enforce the increase of
20 percent on the present rate. The Ex-servicemen
association of Gurkhas in Nepal are demanding for 500
percent increase to bring them in par with retired
British counterparts. It is not begging. It is their
civil right to be treated equally as the Ex-servicemen of
the British Army.
The United Nations (UN) charter has
accepted that there is no difference in cast, creed and
religion. We all are citizens of the UN and therefore it
is a moral responsibility of all member nations to treat
everyone equally.
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