Gurkhas end hunger strike over pensions as Britain agrees to talks
- The strikers had camped under makeshift shelters opposite Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Downing Street office for 13 days, taking no food
- Troops with a reputation for fierce fighting, thousands of Gurkhas have served in the British army but did not enjoy the same rights as British soldiers
Nepalese Gurkha military veterans on Thursday ended their “fast until death” after the British government agreed to discuss their long-standing grievances over pension rights.
Troops with a reputation for fierce fighting, thousands of Gurkhas have served in the British army but did not enjoy the same pay and conditions as British soldiers until 2007.
“Government has a struck a deal with the Nepal embassy for a government-to-government dialogue,” wrote the Gurkha Equal Rights group on its Twitter account.
“The hunger strike has now been called off! Thank you everyone for your support and love.”
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Nepalese Gurkha veterans in UK start ‘fast unto death’ demanding pensions matching British troops
The Ministry of Defence said it was “happy” the group had agreed to end the strike and that it looked forward “to meeting with the group next month alongside the Nepali ambassador to move forward together”.