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| Reading Gurkhas plan hunger strike over pensions | Reading Gurkhas plan hunger strike over pensions |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gurkhas angered by what they say is the government's refusal to give them equal pension rights are beginning a hunger strike later. | Gurkhas angered by what they say is the government's refusal to give them equal pension rights are beginning a hunger strike later. |
| About 60 Gurkhas from Reading say they will starve themselves to death unless there is a change to their pensions. | About 60 Gurkhas from Reading say they will starve themselves to death unless there is a change to their pensions. |
| The MoD said the Gurkhas' conditions of service had "always been fair". | The MoD said the Gurkhas' conditions of service had "always been fair". |
| Two Gurkhas will start a hunger strike at 13:00 BST, 24-hours later another two will take over, building to a mass hunger strike on 7 November. | Two Gurkhas will start a hunger strike at 13:00 BST, 24-hours later another two will take over, building to a mass hunger strike on 7 November. |
| In April, Gurkha veterans from across the south went to Westminster to plea for equal pension rights in line with the rest of the military. | In April, Gurkha veterans from across the south went to Westminster to plea for equal pension rights in line with the rest of the military. |
| 'Prepared to die' | 'Prepared to die' |
| About 25,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997 get about a third of the pension received by their British former comrades. | About 25,000 Gurkhas who retired before 1997 get about a third of the pension received by their British former comrades. |
| Gurkha veteran Gyanraj Rai said: "I was already prepared to die for Britain and I have been campaigning for the last 15 years at my own expense. | Gurkha veteran Gyanraj Rai said: "I was already prepared to die for Britain and I have been campaigning for the last 15 years at my own expense. |
| "We don't have any more money to do a campaign - now the only thing left is my body." | "We don't have any more money to do a campaign - now the only thing left is my body." |
| 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." | "They have reflected the environment that the Gurkhas were in, and they have changed and improved over time to reflect the Gurkhas' changing circumstances." |
| There are 10,000 Gurkha veterans living in the UK, many of them in Reading and Aldershot. | There are 10,000 Gurkha veterans living in the UK, many of them in Reading and Aldershot. |
| In 2009, the government allowed former Gurkha soldiers who had retired before 1997 to settle in the UK following a high-profile campaign led by actress Joanna Lumley. | In 2009, the government allowed former Gurkha soldiers who had retired before 1997 to settle in the UK following a high-profile campaign led by actress Joanna Lumley. |