I do agree with some forumers here that we are living in a multi racial country and by using Gurkhas because they are a neutral force and hence more suitable for handling situations such as racial riots.
Is that the only Gurkha duties?Well guys, things are not as simple as that.
If we really need to have them in Singapore, i think we should have a neutral department to command the Gurkha.
What if the person in power misuse his power to command the Gurkhas to do something nasty against our own people?

View your comments please!!!
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Posted by Gopalan Nair at 3:02 PM

The Gurkhas, men from Nepal have been an integral part of the British Army since the early 18th Century, forming The Brigade of Gurkhas. They have served with distinction in various theaters of war, firstly against the Afghans in the North West Frontier, then the First World War in Gallipoli, Palestine and France and in Burma, Malaya, North Africa, Italy and France in the 2nd War. The Gurkhas unlike regular British troops in battle, charge at the enemy at close quarters, with drawn kukris (Gurkha swords) instead of fixed bayonets and with their customary shrill piercing cry "Aayaaoo Gurkhali" translated as "The Gurkhas are coming" in Hindi and Gurkhali, a cry so piercing and terrifying that hearing the cry alone can cause the enemy to flee in terror.

They have a unique way of carrying their weapon the 0.762mm, SLR rifle, based on the FN Belgium design, which they carry horizontally while marching, carried by the handle grip, whereas all other soldiers carry it by the pistol grip, which makes the rifle vertical during marching.

It has been said that during the Falklands War, 400 miles east of Terra Del Fuego, or Cape Horn, South America in the Atlantic, after the Gurkhas landed, it was sufficient for the RAF to drop leaflets over enemy Argentine positions, merely saying that the Gurkhas have landed and are sharpening their Kukris, for the conscript Argentine army to flee for their lives. True or fiction, I cannot tell.

Anyhow, let me come to the point. The British fought almost a 30 year war against the separatist Irish Republican Army in Northern Ireland. Various British Army units were dispatched to Northern Ireland for this war. But not once, did the British Army deploy the Gurkhas. The reason was that the British felt that although it was a war, the enemy was also British, since Northern Ireland was part of Great Britain and therefore it was morally wrong, repugnant, to deploy Gurkhas who were in essence foreign mercenaries against their own people, the Irish. This was a moral decision from which they did not waiver as it was unacceptable in the minds of the British for foreigners to fight against their own. Whatever one could say about British injustices, one cannot possibly begrudge them of having honor integrity and moral principle in this, their stand.

But Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew, does not appear to have the same moral compunction that the British have on this point. Just the opposite. On the contrary, the Singapore Army does not have any Gurkha units. Strange, since one would have thought that if you are going to have Gurkhas, where else to employ them other than the Army to fight foreign enemies in the event of external aggression. Lee Kuan Yew does not appear to worry too much about foreign enemies, and he is quite satisfied that Singapore's conscript army can very well deal with external aggression.

In Singapore, on the other hand, the Singapore Police Force has a Gurkha Contigent, which appears to have grown in strength from numbering about 200 in it's first days to over 2000 strong today. The police force's duty being the enforcement of law and order within Singapore, it would appear that Lee Kuan Yew, in deploying Gurkhas in the Police Force appears more afraid of what Singaporeans would do to him, rather than what foreign enemies would do to Singapore! From this, one could guess perhaps, that Lee Kuan Yew knows that large numbers of Singaporeans hate him and hate his family so much, that they may, at the slightest provocation rise up in arms and revolt, which would mean the end of the Lee family's iron rule over Singapore, and if this happens, he will be able to rely on the power of the Gurkhas to quell such a rebellion. Otherwise why the need for Gurkhas in the Singapore Police Force? Why does he not trust his own Singaporean police to do the job? And why are there not Gurkhas in the Singapore Army where they belong?

This is a case of fear. Fear both ways. Lee fears his people, so he deploys the Gurkhas. The people fear him and what the Gurkhas might do to them if they rebel. A country that carries on in a state of fear. One can only be sorry both for Lee Kuan Yew and the people of Singapore.
Surely there can be a better way to live.
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Singapore Dissident

http://singaporedissident.blogspot.com/2007/02/singapore-gurkha-brigade-british-army.html

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Did you know it cost a bomb just to employ one Gurkha in Singapore?Did you know we have to feed their entire families too including his wife!
Did you know, they do really do nothing but just standing there guarding something our government claim as important national assets?
Did you know Gurkha only serve whoever pay him well?

I bet you guys only know half! Gurkha was originally employed by the British to protect their empire from the locals because at that time, the British are afraid that the local police might go against them, so it's better to form a police forces that will be loyal to the British because the British paid them and won't help the locals go against them.
Do we still need the Gurkha now?Anyone comment on this topic?
With all the rising costs and hike, our dear PAP government still waste so much money on them?Feed their families as well?What do they deserve that?
Because they help to protect the Lee's empire?Because the Lee's know long ago that, if one day the price keep going up, the locals might vote against them, and if they are going to change any of the election systems to be in their favour and if the locals including the local police are going to revote, he will deploy all the Gurkha to kill the Singaporeans?Is that so?Or then what could it be?
Last time, when i saw heard of Saw the Gurkha, i look to them with respect.
Yes, till now i still respect them for their loyalty to whoevever pay them well and their well built body and fighting skill.But, the question remains, why did the Lee's employ the Gurkha when we have our own police forces?
Australia, China, USA, Japan to name a few only, did they employ them?
NO is the answer.Did their economy or national secruity come under a threat?NO is the answer.So, did they trust their own local police forces?YES is the answer.
Now, even their previous master.. the British.. did not employ them in their own homeland.They rather give those money to their own police forces.
So, now the question remains, what is the REAL reason for our dear PAP government or to say it loud, the Lee's families to employ Gurkha???

Whose vehemently anti-pap clone are you?

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Did you know it cost a bomb just to employ one Gurkha in Singapore?Did you know we have to feed their entire families too including his wife!
Did you know, they do really do nothing but just standing there guarding something our government claim as important national assets?
Did you know Gurkha only serve whoever pay him well?

I bet you guys only know half! Gurkha was originally employed by the British to protect their empire from the locals because at that time, the British were afraided that the local police might went against them, so it's better to form a police force that will stayed loyal to the British because the British paid them and won't help the locals go against them.
Do we still need the Gurkha now?Anyone comment on this topic?
With all the rising costs and hike, our dear PAP government still waste so much money on them?Feed their families as well?Why did they deserve that?
Because they help to protect the Lee's empire?Because the Lee's know long ago that, if one day the price keep going up, the locals might vote against them, and if they are going to change any of the election systems to be in their favour and if the locals including the local police are going to revote, he will deploy all the Gurkha to kill the Singaporeans?Is that so?Or then what could it be?
Last time, when i saw the Gurkhas, i hold them with respect.
Yes, till now i still respect them for their loyalty to whoevever pay them well and their well built body and fighting skill.But, the question remains, why did the Lee's employ the Gurkha when we have our own police forces?
Australia, China, USA, Japan to name a few only, did they employ them?
NO is the answer.Did their economy or national secruity come under a threat?NO is the answer.So, did they trust their own local police forces?YES is the answer.
Now, even their previous master.. the British.. did not employ them in their own homeland.They rather give those money to their own police forces.
So, now the question remains, what is the REAL reason for our dear PAP government or to say it loud, the Lee's families to employ Gurkha???

I dare say you've never even talked to a gurkha before, and you're just pulling this out of your ass.

Personally, I spent a couple of months training with two of them back in NS. They are perhaps the best human beings I've ever had the chance to know. And no, they aren't paid a bomb.

What's wrong with feeding the whole family. Does your father's boss not indirectly feed for your whole family too when you were growing up? That's pure nonsense.

Stop spreading baseless rumors pls.

I think it's the only way to guarantee a dethroned leader's safety to the airport if there happens to be a revolution or coup. At least, that's my theory.

The Gurkha's are extremely loyal to their masters.

Why trust the security of your country to a non-citizen whose loyalty lies with the master?

The only situation where you can't trust your citizen army is during a coup.

Old man is smart, as he is aware of the political climate in Asia, but abit over cautious because it's different here than Thailand, Phillipines or Indonesia.

Animal Farm + dogs

Haiz. Another one .

the one outside goh chok tong’s house tell me very nicely i cannot walk on the pavement outside his house…

Originally posted by deathbait:

I dare say you've never even talked to a gurkha before, and you're just pulling this out of your ass.

Personally, I spent a couple of months training with two of them back in NS. They are perhaps the best human beings I've ever had the chance to know. And no, they aren't paid a bomb.

What's wrong with feeding the whole family. Does your father's boss not indirectly feed for your whole family too when you were growing up? That's pure nonsense.

Stop spreading baseless rumors pls.

they are reputable for their fierce loyalty.
and they can pull the triggers on singaporeans when commanded upon.

can you pull the trigger on your fellow countrymen?

the word here is;
MERCENARIES[/B]

From wiki...

Their presence as a neutral force was important because local police officers were often perceived for being (or were even expected to show) bias towards their own ethnic groups when handling racial disturbances, further fuelling discontent and violence. Officers who attempt to carry out their duties impartially and in full accordance with the law also face social backlash from their own ethnic communities, a difficult situation which can even lead to physical harm to individual officers.

In his autobiography, then Prime Minister, now Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew recounted the use of the Gurkha Contingent as an impartial force at the time when Singapore just gained independence. He wrote:

"When I returned to Oxley Road [Lee's residence], Gurkha policemen (recruited by the British from Nepal) were posted as sentries. To have either Chinese policemen shooting Malays or Malay policemen shooting Chinese would have caused widespread repercussions. The Gurkhas, on the other hand, were neutral, besides having a reputation for total discipline and loyalty."

It sums everything up...

Hmmm...

That was a long long time ago.

You mean Gurkhas do regular policing work?

You still have the local races in the Army and Police. I didn't know that our soldiers in the Army and officers in the Police, would start shooting each other because of race in this current era. Let's say hypothetically if our few hundred thousand soldiers decide to shoot each other because of race. How big is this Gurkha contingent? How are the Gurkhas going to stop such ahypothetical blood bath?

Maybe he should increase the Gurkha contingent to afew hundred thousand, then Singaporeans won't shoot each other because of race. Then Singaporeans won't have to do National Service.

I still feel that it's a lame excuse to keep a small loyal army as a contingency plan incase of coup. At least the small Gurkha contingent can ensure a swift evacuation to the airports.

You sustain an army for a long time, just to use it the instance you are in dire straits.

Sometimes, the young and naive are easily hoodwink by illogical explanation.

Hmmm...

That was a long long time ago.

You mean Gurkhas do regular policing work?

You still have the local races in the Army and Police. I didn't know that our soldiers in the Army and officers in the Police, would start shooting each other because of race in this current era. Let's say hypothetically if our few hundred thousand soldiers decide to shoot each other because of race. How big is this Gurkha contingent? How are the Gurkhas going to stop such ahypothetical blood bath?

Maybe he should increase the Gurkha contingent to afew hundred thousand, then Singaporeans won't shoot each other because of race. Then Singaporeans won't have to do National Service.

I still feel that it's a lame excuse to keep a small loyal army as a contingency plan incase of coup. At least the small Gurkha contingent can ensure a swift evacuation to the airports.

You sustain an army for a long time, just to use it the instance you are in dire straits.

Sometimes, the young and naive are easily hoodwink by illogical explanation.

The regime fears a coup d'état, that's why you see Generals in SAF don't stay in the top position for too long. After a couple of years, they are shuffled out to GICs or GLCs, so that they do not have the time to build strong relationships with other Generals and the force.

The longest serving General was Winston Choo, after him, P4P practice a short cycle of shuffling out those top Generals.

Originally posted by maurizio13:

The regime fears a coup d'état, that's why you see Generals in SAF don't stay in the top position for too long. After a couple of years, they are shuffled out to GICs or GLCs, so that they do not have the time to build strong relationships with other Generals and the force.

The longest serving General was Winston Choo, after him, P4P practice a short cycle of shuffling out those top Generals.

true i guess...

tats y not much commandos becum generals too... scare they built a strong rapport with the world's elite as well and hold a coup or some sort...

Originally posted by mhcampboy:

true i guess...

tats y not much commandos becum generals too... scare they built a strong rapport with the world's elite as well and hold a coup or some sort...

The old man smart, that's why he came up with this idea of moving out the Generals after afew years.

If you look at other countries like Thailand, Phillipines and Indonesia, most of the Generals there serve in the army for almost all their lives, they build strong rapport amongst the forces. That's why it is possible to stage coups. In Singapore, a coup is never a possibility.

One also has to question the abilities of these short term Generals in conducting a theatre of war.

You spend afew years as the Chief of Defence Force, so if a war happens within those few years, you will only have less than afew years experience in conducting a theatre of war. If a war should happen in the begining of your term, you will only have probably afew months experience.

from my experience... they're definitely well worth their money.

wah lao.. they're so fit, they're like monsters. and they don't hesitate to kill and do their job, unlike the average soft singaporean police (shoot one bullet write a pile of report).

Originally posted by maurizio13:

I still feel that it's a lame excuse to keep a small loyal army as a contingency plan incase of coup. At least the small Gurkha contingent can ensure a swift evacuation to the airports.

Animal farm mah
George Orwell has already taught us

You have shown great disrespect to the Gurkha!

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Did you know it cost a bomb just to employ one Gurkha in Singapore?Did you know we have to feed their entire families too including his wife!

Please tell us why do you say it cost a bomb to employ one Gurkha? We paid the Gurkha, he feed his family, what's wrong? did you father bring back the money he worked for to feed his family, including you? What's wrong with that.

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Did you know, they do really do nothing but just standing there guarding something our government claim as important national assets?

Guarding important national assets is "really do nothing"? I often see Gurkha guarding the Australian School, holding guns looking at young students from all nationalities, it is a good job of doing nothing?

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Did you know Gurkha only serve whoever pay him well?

don't you work for the employer who pay you well? or you work for fun?

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

I bet you guys only know half! Gurkha was originally employed by the British to protect their empire from the locals because at that time, the British were afraided that the local police might went against them, so it's better to form a police force that will stayed loyal to the British because the British paid them and won't help the locals go against them.

If we know half about Gurkha, you know nuts about Gurkha. Gurkha was initially recruited by the British East India Company to fight wars, then they became part of the British Indian Army. Today, the British Gurkhas are not treated as mercenaries but are fully integrated soldiers of the British Army, operate in formed units of the Brigade of Gurkhas, and abide by the rules and regulations under which all British soldiers serve. Similar rules apply for Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army. What local police??

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Last time, when i saw the Gurkhas, i hold them with respect.
Yes, till now i still respect them for their loyalty to whoevever pay them well and their well built body and fighting skill.

you respect them for their well built body.... you have special liking for well built body? You really don't know about Gurkha as a soldier, as a fighting force! respecting and liking their body, you insult them.

Originally posted by blackhat_lee:

Now, even their previous master.. the British.. did not employ them in their own homeland.They rather give those money to their own police forces.

Check your facts, idiot.

underneath the anger, the TS has raised an important point if what he claims is true.

To TS : can u provide justification that taxpayers pay for the stipend and school fees of Gurkha families?

Bet TS cant even take down the Gurkha's child...

my work place at joo seng rd, is the gurkha camp. everyday i see lots of gurkhas jogging (anytime) and thier families members around the neighbourhood. nothing wrong wat..

TS is jealous because he earns lesser than a gurkha

hw much they earn ah?

The Gurkhas are commanded by a British Army chap.

Secondly, they make handy SWAT units.

Whoever thought these will be used to kill citizens might be stretching their imagination too far. Which idiot wants to start a civil war in Singapore?

Originally posted by newcomer:

hw much they earn ah?

i am curious how much they earn as well ..... anyone can share the info ?