LONDON (AFP) — Gurkha veterans gave back military medals on Wednesday in protest at "disgracefully low" pensions and called for the right to live in Britain in return for years of fighting alongside British troops.
About 50 Gurkhas, dressed in regimental ties and their distinctive khaki hats, handed over their medals outside parliament to call for their monthly pension of some 131 pounds (260 dollars, 166 euros) to be substantially raised.
That compares with pensions of about 1,000 pounds for regular British troops.
The British government increased the pension last year by 19 percent to its current level, but the Gurkhas say the improved amount is insufficient to live on even in their native Nepal.
Arkumar Gurung, 42, who saw duty in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 during a 19-year career, said: "Our pension is an insult, a disgrace. I was proud to be a British soldier but our British colleagues who retire get so much more than us for doing the same service.
"I gave half my active life for Britain. We deserve more."
Dewan Gurung, 46, who served in the army for 23 years including tours in Bosnia, Sierra Leone and the Falkland islands, said: "We are not asking for anything more than we deserve."
"Our pension is not even enough for life in Nepal. In Britain, it is incredibly low," said Gurung, now a British citizen who works as a university warden in the southern English port of Dover.
The Gurkhas are also calling for changes to the rules under which they have no automatic right to remain in Britain if they retired before 1997.
The veterans handed over their medals to Nick Clegg, the leader of the opposition Liberal Democrats, who is backing their cause.
Clegg said the British government's treatment of the Gurkhas was "a national disgrace".
He told the assembled crowd of some 300 Gurkha veterans: "When I told people what you get from the government in return for the years of brave, loyal, uncomplaining success, people simply don't believe it.
"I will do everything I can to end this unacceptable and immoral discrimination."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown later told parliament that the right for retired Gurkhas to live in Britain had only been granted from 1997 because that was when Hong Kong, their former principal base, was handed over to Chinese rule.
"They have done a tremendous job for our country," Brown said, adding that the current Labour government was the first to raise Gurkhas' pensions.
Nepalese Gurkhas have been part of the British army for nearly 200 years and around 200,000 fought for Britain in World Wars I and II; some 43,000 were killed or wounded.
Around 3,500 Gurkhas currently serve in the British army.
Prince Harry paid tribute to the Gurkhas for protecting him when he was on a recent tour of duty in Afghanistan.
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