Like many other people residing in Myanmar, the majority of the Gurkhas and people of Nepalese-origin, went to live there were with the British administration. Many served during World War II in the Burma Campaign. After Burma and now Myanmar acquired independence in 1948, Gurkhas joined the infant Burma Army and were considered assets.
Fast forward to 2021, an estimated 300,000 ethnic Gurkhas live in Myanmar today. But they believe that their forefathers’ sacrifices have been forgotten, as the current reformist government continues to deny them citizenship and people regularly discriminate against them.
In the wake of the current violence, Burmese Gurkhas settled in the UK worry about the safety of their families in Myanmar.
Noom Raj moved to the UK in 2009 to study at the West London Business School. In an exclusive interview with Asian Voice, he said, “Though in Myanmar my qualification was high level, when my father sent me to study here, I had to start from foundation.
“I later trained as a chef and started my own food truck (van). Mainly based in Camden, I have even been to Glastonbury festival with my truck. But in 2015, when my father passed away, I had to make my way back to Myanmar for his last rites. When I came back, using my van, I started a small business of removals and parcel deliveries.”
In the last few days, more than 30 demonstrators of pro-democracy supporters have been reportedly wounded and 18 dead, as police and military forces have fired tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades against crowds nationwide protesting in Myanmar.
The military, allegedly without any evidence, has claimed, that the ruling party of State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy (NLD), has fraudulently won parliamentary elections in November and Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested on 1 February. The coup has brought a halt to the country’s steps towards democracy, after 50 years of military rule.
UK has described the situation as "deadly and escalating" and the violence against demonstrators as "abhorrent".
Noom, 38, who lives in Brent cross in London, told the newsweekly, “Myanmar is not a safe country to live now. My grandfather gave his life for the country, but we as Gurkhas face discriminations daily. That is why my father was determined to send me to the UK. He wasn’t a rich man, but he wanted us to have a good future."
“Everybody knows the story of Aung San Suu Kyi, her sacrifices and she is like our ‘mother’”, he added. “But the situation now is gravely worrying. My own mother and siblings live in Myanmar. On one hand there is the fear of Covid. On the other, military and police are arresting people randomly at night.”
Noom, who is expecting his second child soon, has been in between hospital runs with his wife and toddler. But amidst all this, he has also reached out to the Embassy of Myanmar in London to seek help to connect with his family. “I haven’t heard back from my family in two weeks. All communications have been severed. My 65-year-old mother has diabetes and other comorbidities. She often keeps unwell. I have siblings too and I worry for them every day.”
