. STATEMENT BY TUL BAHADUR PUN VC ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ARRIVAL IN THE UK July 5th, 2007 I am very tired following the very long journey from my village in Nepal to London over the past few days and have therefore asked my solicitor to make this statement on my behalf. First of all, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the British people for granting me the privilege to come and live amongst them in a country, which I have fought fo r and love. When I was originally refused permission to come to the UK I was very upset and felt that I had been rejected by Britain. When I heard about the incredible campaign of support that had been organized by the British Public and British Armed forces I was stunned and overjoyed. I knew then for certain that the British public, soldiers, sailors and airmen still valued me and the loyalty that I and other Gurkha veterans had shown to Britain. I am certain that this victory would not have been possible without the overwhelming and generous support of the Great British Public; my brothers and sisters in arms in the British Armed Forces both past and present; the Gurkha Army Ex-Servicemen’s Organisation; MPs such as John MacDonald and Anne Widdecome; Joanna Lumley; the British press and in particular the Daily Mirror; Virgin Airlines for bringing me here; the Renaissance hotel for hosting this welcome; RAF nurse Jill Pitts for taking such good care of me and my solicitors Howe & Co. I consider myself as a simple man and the thousands of letters and emails that have been sent by British People in support of my Gurkha veteran comrades and me have humbled me. I will never forget the 45,000 Gurkhas killed in battle fighting along side our British brothers, nor will I ever forget my British brothers and sisters who have laid-down their lives fighting alongside the Brigade of Gurkhas in numerous battles and wars over the last 200 years. I think that, in life, it is the greatest honour to be a Gurkha, because it is the greatest honour to serve the British people and our Brigade. Now that I have been allowed to come to Britain to be with my old comrades and to receive medical treatment, I will do my best to be a credit to Britain. Despite my age, I will do my best to help the plight of my fellow British Army Gurkha veterans who live in poverty in Nepal. It is saddening to me that so many brave men of my Brigade, including veterans who were badly injured fighting in the Falklands war, have to rely on charity to get their basic living and health needs. I do not ask anything of Britain, or its people, save to help me get a little medical care now that I am old. However, I do have one request for Britain, a country which I love so much, and that is to ask if your great country can please look at the plight of my veteran Gurkha comrades in arms and the injustice they continue to face when asking for permission to come to Britain when they, like me, have fought for British freedom against the forces of tyranny but happened to have retired from the British Army before 1997. I never left any of my comrades on the battlefield, British or Gurkha, and I will not abandon my veteran Gurkha comrades now in their hour of need, when I have been granted the privilege to live in Great Britain. From the bottom of my heart, I am deeply touched by the support shown to me by the people of Great Britain, and across the world, and I give you my most solemn thanks. Sincerely, Honorary Lieutenant Tul Bahadur Pun VC