The Gurkha Contingent (Abbreviation: GC; simplified Chinese: 廓尔喀警察团; pinyin: gūjiā jǐngchátuán), or 辜加警察团, is a line department of the Singapore Police Force. A shotgun (also known as a scattergun) is a Firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number The MP5 is a 9 mm Submachine gun of German design developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the West German arms manufacturer For the HTML tag see HTML element. An abbreviation (from Latin brevis "short" Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use The Singapore Police Force ( Abbreviation: SPF; Chinese: 新加坡警察部队; Malay: Pasukan Polis Singapura Tamil Members of the GC are trained to be highly-skilled and are selected for their display of strong discipline and dedication in their tasks. In its most general sense discipline refers to systematic instruction given to a Disciple. The principal role of the contingent is to be a special guard force, and is currently used as a counter-terrorist force. In most countries special forces (SF is a generic term for highly-trained Military teams/units that conduct specialized operations such as Reconnaissance For the military meaning see Armed forces. For the Soviet sports society see Armed Forces (sports society Armed Forces Counter-terrorism or counterterrorism refers to the practices tactics, techniques and strategies that Governments militaries, Police departments
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History
The GC was formed on 9 April 1949 in the wake of Indian independence from the British Empire, where Gurkhas from the British Indian Army were transferred out of India and into other British Colonies. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. See Indian Army for the post-independence (and post- partition) army of the Republic of India. In Malaya and Singapore, their presence was badly needed to battle the worsening communist threat, and to replace the Sikh unit in Singapore which disintegrated during the Second World War. The Federation of Malaya (Persekutuan Tanah Melayu was a federation of 11 states formed on January 31 1948 from the nine Malay states and the British Singapore Communism is a Socioeconomic structure that promotes the establishment of an egalitarian, classless, stateless Society based The Malayan Emergency was a State of emergency declared by the British colonial government of Malaya in 1948 and lifted in 1960 as well as an insurrection and Sikh (English or; ਸਿੱਖ sikkh, IPA) is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
Just a year after their formation, their presence became an asset when racial riots between the Malay and European communities broke out over the disputed custody of Maria Hertogh. The Maria Hertogh riots or Natrah riots, which started on 11 December, 1950 in Singapore, consisted of outraged Muslims who resented The GC troopers were again activated when major rioting erupted all over the country between the ethnic Malays and Chinese on Prophet Mohammed's birthday from 21 July 1964 till September that same year. IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.
Their presence as a neutral force was important because local police officers were often perceived for being (or were even expected to be) biased towards their own ethnic groups when handling racial disturbances, further fueling 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. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the Head of government of the Republic of Singapore (and prior to 9 August 1965 Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH ( born September 16 1923 also spelled Lee Kwan-Yew) is a Singaporean of Chinese immigrant background Singapore rose in importance during the 14th century under the rule of Srivijayan prince Parameswara and became an important port until it was destroyed by Portuguese raiders in 1613 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. "
Incidents
On 15 October 2002, a Gurkha Corporal was struck by lightning while walking along an unsheltered walkway outside the Paya Lebar MRT Station and died at the scene. Events 533 - Byzantine General Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of Electricity, which typically occurs during Thunderstorms and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or The Paya Lebar MRT Station (EW8/CC9 is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT Interchange station on the East West Line and on the future Circle Aged 26, he was not on duty at the time of the incident. Other pedestrians walking close to him were relatively unhurt.
On 18 March 2004, three armed fugitives escaped from Johor, Malaysia after committing armed robbery, and fled by a motorised sampan to Pulau Tekong. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from Custody, whether it be from private Slavery, a government Arrest, government or non-government questioning Johor (alt English spelling Johore, Jawi scriptجوهر is a state of Malaysia between 1°20"N and 2°35"N For the biogeographical region see Malesia Malaysia (məˈleɪʒə or /məˈleɪziə/ is a country that consists of thirteen states and A sampan ( Chinese: 舢舨 is a relatively flat bottomed Chinese wooden Boat from 3 Pulau Tekong is the largest of Singapore 's outlying islands with an area of 24 Over 700 personnel from the police and the SAF were activated, with the first fugitive captured by the Gurkha officers within 34 hours from the commencement of the search operation. The second fugitive was arrested by the Police Coast Guard's Special Task Squadron officers, while the last man was again caught by the GC six hours after the second arrest [1]. The Police Coast Guard ( Abbreviation: PCG Chinese: 警察海岸卫队 Malay: Polis Pengawal Pantai is the Marine Police division of the
Manpower and training
Since its formation in 1949 with 142 men, the contingent has grown to over 2,000 in size in 2003. [1] Young men are recruited in Nepal at the British Gurkha camp in Pokhara. Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. Pokhara (पोखरा is a city of close to 200000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28 About 370 are selected annually in December out of a pool of over 20,000 applications[2] with about 140 eventually joining the GC while the rest will go to the British Army. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces.
Some of the basic physical admission criteria in the recruitment camp include:
- Aged 17½ to 21
- Minimum height of 160 centimetres
- Minimum weight of 50 kilogrammes
- Chest circumference of 79 centimetres with minimum 5 centimetres expansion
- No applicants needing eyesight aids will be accepted.
- Generally good oral hygiene, with up to two fillings, false teeth or a single gap. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the Mouth and Teeth clean in order to prevent dental problems and bad breath.
Applicants are expected to possess a minimum education level of SLC 3rd Division. Upon registration, they have to go through a battery of physical and mental assessments prior to selection, including oral and written tests in the English language, a mathematics test, a board interview and medical examination. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Mathematics is the body of Knowledge and Academic discipline that studies such concepts as Quantity, Structure, Space and The annual selection process, which normally takes 17 days but is spread over four months due to conditions in Nepal, will then assign recruits to either the GC or the British Army.
Upon successful selection, GC trainees are flown to Singapore, and housed at the permanent base of the GC at Mount Vernon Camp where they will receive a ten-month long training before being subsequently deployed for duties. Mount Vernon Camp, also known as the Gurkha Cantonment, is an establishment of the Singapore Police Force built to house the training and residential facilities The training phase of GC officers is relatively unknown, although they have been noted to utilise the jungles in Pulau Tekong for training. Pulau Tekong is the largest of Singapore 's outlying islands with an area of 24 Arrangements with the Brunei police have allowed Gurkha officers to conduct jungle training in Brunei for several years. Brunei Darussalam, (bruːˈnaɪ in English officially the State of Brunei Abode of Peace (Negara Brunei Darussalam Jawi: برني دارالسلام Training from external agencies were also received from the SAF Medical Training Institute for medical courses [2], and the Aikido Shinju-kai Singapore for lessons in Aikido,[3] as well as specialised training in full contact Kyokushin Karate http://www.ikosingapore.com . The SAF Medical Training Institute ( Abbreviation: SMTI Malay: Institusi Latihan Perubatan Angkatan Bersenjata Singapura Simplified Chinese: 新加坡武装部队医疗训练学院 is a Japanese martial art developed by Morihei Ueshiba as a synthesis of his martial studies philosophy and religious beliefs
Organization and rank structure
There are a total of six Gurkha Guard companies commanded by Nepali Chief Inspectors. As a British colonial import, the first contingent commander was a British officer, and till today, it remains the only military or police unit to be headed by a British officer in Singapore seconded from the British Army. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. The current commander is Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ross Forman. Deputy Assistant Commissioner ( DAC) is a rank in the London Metropolitan Police Service between Assistant Commissioner and Commander The contingent also has its own Gurkha Band Contingent, the Gurkha Contingent Pipes and Drums Platoon, which is part of the Singapore Police Force Band The Gurkha Contingent Pipes and drums platoon is commanded by P & D OIC Insp Chandrasing Gurung. The Singapore Police Force Gurkha Contingent Pipes and Drums Platoon is a 35 strong platoon currently led by Inspector Buddhi Gurung.
Ranks
The rank structure of the GC has remained largely unchanged over the years, thus retaining several ranks which have since been abolished in the rest of the police Force. It is currently the only unit to retain the rank of Chief Inspector, and to recruit new officers as Constables as opposed to regular officers in the rest of the SPF who start from a minimum rank of Corporal. Chief Inspector ( Ch Insp) is a rank used in Police forces which follow the British model
| Junior officers | Abbreviation | Senior officers | Abbreviation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable | PC | Inspector | INSP |
| Lance Corporal | LCP | Chief Inspector | C/INSP |
| Corporal | CPL | Assistant Superintendent | ASP |
| Sergeant | SGT | Deputy Superintendent | DSP |
| Staff Sergeant | SSGT | Superintendent | SUPT |
| Senior Staff Sergeant | SSSGT | Deputy Assistant Commissioner | DAC |
| Station Inspector | SI | Assistant Commissioner | AC |
Staff welfare and rights
Although the Nepalese troopers may be willing parties in their stint in Singapore, the entire arrangement has raised eyebrows amongst human rights activists. A constable is a person holding a particular office most commonly in law enforcement. This is about the police rank/position For the use in graphical user interfaces see Inspector window. Lance Corporal is a Military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide and also by some Police forces and other uniformed organizations Chief Inspector ( Ch Insp) is a rank used in Police forces which follow the British model Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police ( ASP) was a rank used by Police forces in the British Empire Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries police forces and other uniformed organizations around the world Deputy Superintendent, or Deputy Superintendent of Police ( DSP) was a rank used by Police forces of the British Empire. For the Brush-footed butterfly Species, see Athyma selenophora. Superintendent ( Supt) often shortened to "Super" is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations A Senior Staff Sergeant ( Abbreviation: SSS or SSSGT Chinese: 高级警曹长 in the Singapore Police Force ranks between Staff Sergeant and Deputy Assistant Commissioner ( DAC) is a rank in the London Metropolitan Police Service between Assistant Commissioner and Commander Station Inspector (SI is the third highest Non-commissioned officer rank in the Singapore Police Force, below that of Senior Station Inspector Assistant Commissioner is a rank used in many Police forces Australia In all Australian police forces excepting the New South Wales Police Force where it is No treaty or formal agreement exists between Nepal, Singapore and the United Kingdom in relation to the enlistment of GC members, and the existing arrangements allowing for the centralised recruitment base in Nepal and the secondment of the British officer to head the GC is done via a repayment basis between the Singaporean and British governments with no involvement from the Nepalese authorities. The Government of Singapore is formed by the Political party which gains a simple majority in the general Elections held in Singapore at least once every The politics of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland takes place in the framework of a Constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is Head The politics of Nepal function within a framework of a Republic with a Multi-party system. Activists thus question if the British have the legal right to trade the Gurkhas with a third party, instead of the Singaporean government directly negotiating with the Nepalese for the recruitment and training of the Gurkhas.
In contrast to Gurkhas recruited into the British Army, however, GC members are accorded equal status in salary scales and pensions compared to their regular local counterparts, thus allowing them to retire in Nepal at the compulsory retirement age of 45 with a sizable amount of money. The thousands of ex-British Army Gurkhas do not have it as good, and often need to find employment once back home, which may not easily be found considering their old age. The Gurkha Welfare Trust was thus established in the United Kingdom seeking public donations to assist them. The Gurkha Welfare Trust is a British charity, established in 1969 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located From September 2005, the British Club in Singapore selected the trust as one of the two beneficiaries it will support for the next two years,[4] with the funds expected to also help any ex-GC member in need. A club is an association of people united by a common interest or goal
Further employment of ex-GC members in Singapore is also available should they be successful in gaining employment passes or other documents permitting their continued stay in the country. For instance, Ian Gordon, a retired commander of the GC, established a security company, Homeland Security Partners, comprising entirely of retired GC officers to provide private security services. [5]
Deployment
Before the September 11, 2001 attacks at New York City, the GC was seldom seen in public besides being stationed at key locations such as the Istana, and the homes of VIPs such as the then Senior Minister (now Minister Mentor) Lee Kuan Yew. The City of New York The Istana ( Chinese: 总统府 is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. The title "Senior Minister" was also a title used in Canada before " Deputy Prime Minister " was introduced in 1977 Minister Mentor ( Simplified Chinese: 内阁资政 is a Cabinet position created by the Singapore government in 2004 as part of a leadership Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH ( born September 16 1923 also spelled Lee Kwan-Yew) is a Singaporean of Chinese immigrant background They were also seen stationed at important foreign properties such as the British High Commission and installations which require added security such as the Currency House at Pasir Panjang. High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking special executive positions held by a commission of appointment Pasir Panjang is an area in the south-western part of Singapore.
Changing security concerns since 2001 has led to a more active deployment of GC troopers in recent years, and a review of their existing roles. Previously known for standing guard atop lookout towers at Changi Prison where the country's top criminals are housed, this role has since been outsourced to private Auxiliary police forces in the mid-2000s with the liberalization of the private armed security industry. Changi Prison ( (Malay Penjara Changi is a Prison located in Changi in the eastern part of Singapore. Auxiliary police (also called Special police or Special constables are usually the part-time reserves of a regular Police force
At the same time, they are now seen in more public locations such as the land entry points at Woodlands and Tuas, as well as at the Singapore Changi Airport. Woodlands, or the Woodlands New Town ( Chinese: zh 兀兰新镇 Pinyin: Wùlán Xīnzhèn) is a Suburban Town Tuas is largely an industrial zone located in the western part of Singapore. Besides being deployed at Embassies, their presence is also felt at sensitive locations such as the Singapore American School, the Australian International School, The American Club at Claymore Hill, as well as the causeway entrance to Jurong Island. The Australian International School Singapore (AISS is a Co-educational International school in Singapore. The American Club is a luxury Spa and Resort located in Kohler Wisconsin. In modern usage a causeway is a road or railway elevated by a bank usually across a broad Body of water or Wetland. Jurong Island is a man-made island located to the southwest of the main island of Singapore, off Jurong Industrial Estate From October 2005, GC troopers began guarding sea-entry points as well, including the Singapore Cruise Centre, the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, the Changi Ferry Terminal and the Changi Point Ferry Terminal [3]. The Singapore Cruise Centre ( abbrev: SCC; Chinese: 新加坡邮轮中心 is a cruise terminal located in the south of Singapore
Besides guarding key installations, Gurkha troopers are also increasingly deployed during key national events. They are deployed during the annual National Day Parade, and complemented the police's stringent security measures during the 117th IOC Session held in Singapore in July 2005. The National Day Parade ( Abbreviation: NDP,, Perbarisan Hari Kebangsaan தேசிய தின அணிவகுப்பு In addition, they are also deployed to watch over sealed ballot boxes during the country's general elections. There are currently two types of Elections in Singapore in Singapore parliamentary; and (since 1993) presidential. Most recently, the GC was involved in the hunt for the escaped terrorist, Mas Selamat [4]. Mas Selamat bin Kastari (born 23 January 1961) an Indonesian born Singaporean is Singapore's most-wanted terror Fugitive who
Less publicly known, is the GC's role in helping to train fellow officers in the police force, as well as other agencies including that of the military. Their excellent fitness, combat and survival skills were imparted through various courses, in return for the help they have similarly received from other agencies in training GC troopers. Gurkhas occasionally lead police Senior Officer trainees in runs and other physical training.
The GC has also contributed to Singapore's overseas security and humanitarian missions. For example, GC officers were part of a 40-man Singapore Police Contingent to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor in 2000 [5]. The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET provided an interim civil administration and a peacekeeping mission in the territory of East Timor, They also joined a 30-man team to Iraq to help train about 1,500 local Iraqi trainers and police officers for three months before returning to Singapore on 19 September 2003 [6]. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. A police officer (also known as a policeman or policewoman) is a warranted employee of a Police force. Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
Uniforms
The uniforms of the Gurkha Contingent are largely adapted from that of their regular counterparts, adopting the same dark blue outfit but particularly distinguished by their signature headgear, the Hat Terrai Gurkha. Headgear, headwear or headdress is the name given to any element of Clothing which is worn on one's head. The Hat Terai Gurkha is the name of the Headgear worn by officers of the Gurkha Contingent in Singapore. The uniform has remained largely unchanged over the past decades, resulting in increased differences from that of regular police officers. For example, the adoption of embroidered ranks and badges, the abolition of long-sleeved shirts for short-sleeved ones, and the removal of the whistle and chain from the no. 3 dress has not been followed by the Gurkhas. This resistance towards changes to the uniform for the sake of officer comfort and welfare is reflective of the contingent's culture of strict adherence to tradition and the placing of duty above self.
Dress No. 3
The Gurkha trooper's no. M16 (more formally United States Rifle II Caliber 556 mm M16) is the U 3 dress, also called the working dress, is for general duties, including guard duties and on parade. The dark blue outfit, largely adapted from the Singapore Police Force, includes the standard two front breast pockets on the shirt with aluminium anodised collar badges, buttons and a black plastic name tag atop the right breast pocket. Since removed in the rest of the SPF but retained by the GC are the chromed service number pinned above the name tag, and the whistle and chain.
The shirt is long-sleeved and neatly folded up, unlike the short-sleeved versions adopted for the no. 3 dress of the SPF. The sleeves are rolled down when the sun sets, and rolled up again when the sun rises. GC trooper continue to wear aluminium badges of rank, which are worn on the right sleeve 11. 5 centimetres below the right shoulder strap. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth Constables wear aluminium bars at the outer edges of the shoulder straps. The dark blue trousers are secured by the two-pronged black leather Garrison Belt, and completed by standard issued black leather boots. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process
The trooper wears the Hat Terrai Gurkha when on guard duty and while on parade. While on guard duty, he is armed with a pistol and magazine pouch worn on the belt, and with the Kukri affixed to the back of his belt. The kukri ( Devanāgarī: खुकुरी(also sometimes spelled khukri or khukuri) is a curved Nepalese Knife used as both Additional weaponry and equipment may be issued depending on situational needs. When not on duty, the officer dons a newly produced brown beret with the metal police cap badge similar to older berets worn by combat officers of the SPF. A beret (ber-HET in French or /ˈBer-EHT/ in English, except in the USA, where it is usually pronounced /ber-EHT is a soft round Cap, usually
Senior Gurkha officers are distinguished by a gold flash on the cap badge. The Duty Unit Sergeant wears an additional red sash with the uniform. A sash (شاش shash) is a cloth belt used to hold a Robe together and is usually tied about the waist
Dress No. 4
The Gurkha no. 4 dress is adapted from the combat dress of their regular counterparts, and is also known as the night dress, as they are worn during night duty. They are also worn for civil security duty and training, as well as range practices at any time of the day. The long sleeves of the dark blue shirt is similarly rolled up and down depending on duty requirements and time of day, and is devoid of metal accruements. Junior officers wear their service numbers using white embroidered lettering on a dark blue Velcro backing fixed above their right breast pocket. Ranks are sewn on the right sleeves and made of embroidered, white cloth. The dark blue trousers are tucked into combat boots, and is topped by a dark blue beret.
In recent years, the GC has increasingly adopted the no. 4 dress for active duty in public places, incorporating elements from the no. 3 dress. Officers on duty during the National Day Parade and the 117th IOC Session wear the no. The National Day Parade ( Abbreviation: NDP,, Perbarisan Hari Kebangsaan தேசிய தின அணிவகுப்பு 4 dress but with the Hat Terrai Gurkha. The shirt sleeves are rolled up, and includes the metal whistle and chain. In addition, the rank is not sewn to the sleeves, but worn on a dark blue tab affixed to the right breast pocket with the rank in silver embroidered thread similar to that currently used by regular officers.
Less often seen, but formally in frequent use during rioting incidents is the fire-resistant version of the combat dress, which feature zipper breast pockets and on the trousers. Gurkha officers may also wear the jungle dress, with camouflage-coloured uniforms based on the British Army DPM and jockey cap, and complemented by various forms of webbing for paramilitary training, duties in rural and forested areas, combat fitness training and when dispatched out of Singapore for overseas exercises. Camouflage is a method of cryptic or concealing coloration that allows an otherwise visible Organism The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces.
2006 changes
In 2006, the GC implemented its biggest change to its uniform since the adoption of the present uniform three decades ago, just prior to the commencement of the 61st Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group as part of Singapore 2006. The IMF and World Bank meet each autumn in what is officially known as the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group and each spring The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic The World Bank Group (WBG is a family of five International organizations responsible for providing Finance and advice to countries for the purposes of economic Singapore 2006 was a group of several concurrent events that were held in Singapore in support of the 61st Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Khaki-coloured berets in place of the Hat Terrai Gurkha and the dark blue beret. The Hat Terrai Gurkha became a largely ceremonial headgear. The combat dress (Dress No. 4) was changed to a cotton-polyester material to match those adopted by other specialised units of the SPF, such as the Special Operations Command and the Police Coast Guard, albeit with a slightly darker shade of blue. The Police Coast Guard ( Abbreviation: PCG Chinese: 警察海岸卫队 Malay: Polis Pengawal Pantai is the Marine Police division of the
Social life and impact
The entire contingent is housed in Mount Vernon Camp, which is their one-stop location for work as well as personal life. Mount Vernon Camp, also known as the Gurkha Cantonment, is an establishment of the Singapore Police Force built to house the training and residential facilities While most new recruits come to Singapore alone since they are usually in their late teens or early twenties, they are allowed to bring along their wives and immediate family members to Singapore as they move on into the next phases of their personal lives.
Ultimately, the officers know they are here only on a temporary basis, further enforced by the fact that they are disallowed from integrating too much with local society. Due to their chief purpose as a neutral presence here, they are not allowed to marry Singaporean women, hence the allowance to bring their wives and children from Nepal to the camp. At the end of their contract, they are expected to return to their villages and back to a rural life dependent on agriculture. Only a handful have ever been known to have broken this tradition and chosen to stay in the city-state.
The camp itself is built on a relatively secluded area in Mount Vernon, taking over facilities previously occupied by the reserve units. Mount Vernon ( Chinese: 翡珑山 is a small hill in central Singapore west of Potong Pasir and north of MacPherson Estate. Comprehensive facilities to create a self-contained township-like complex allows most daily chores and needs to be fulfilled within the camp without too much interaction with the outside world. This also helps to reduce the amount of traffic into and out of the camp for security reasons.
Still, dwellers in the complex are not prohibited from leaving the camp or utilising services and facilities outside it. Throngs of school-going Nepalese children regularly leave and enter the camp everyday, wearing the uniforms of national schools. The camp's close proximity to Bartley Secondary School has seen a significant number of Nepalese children being enrolled there, although they can also be found in schools much further away as the children become gradually assimilated into Singaporean society and culture. Bartley Secondary School is a Secondary school in Singapore. The current principal is Mrs Mary Bay They cannot sink their roots deeply, however, as most of them are in the country on dependent passes, and are compelled to leave Singapore when they turn 21.
Still most of these young Nepalese are unlikely to follow their fathers' footsteps, and armed with education certificates, are expected to lead quite a different life compared to previous generations should they return to Nepal. They also have the liberty to apply for employment passes to work in Singapore, as is the case for any other foreigner seeking employment in the country, and it is possible to obtain permanent residence and even citizenship, although these young Nepalese receive no special treatment in obtaining permanent status.
The surrounding commercial outlets thrive on business brought about by the Nepalese community based here, and it is a common sight to see officers doing their daily recreational runs around the major roads close to the camp, albeit always in civilian running attire and running alone or in small groups to avoid drawing too much attention to themselves.
The Gurkha community has been known to extend aid to their fellow Nepalese in Singapore, such as during the operation to separate the conjoined twins Ganga and Jamuna at the Singapore General Hospital in November 2001, where they helped to raise funds for the medical procedure and daily expenses, accommodated the family at their Mount Vernon home for a period of time, and assisting in making logistical arrangements for the family's transportation and other needs. Conjoined twins are whose bodies are joined in utero A rare phenomenon the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50000 births to 1 in 200000 births with a somewhat higher incidence The Singapore General Hospital ( abbrev: SGH; Chinese: 新加坡中央医院 Malay: Hospital Besar Singapura is the largest and oldest [6]
Back in Nepal, the Gurkha Welfare Trust seeks to preserve the legacy and heritage of the Gurkhas with the opening of Gurkha Memorial Museum in the premises of Hotel Nature Land at Pardi, Pokhara. For the place in Azerbaijan see Pərdili. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Pardi is a town and a Municipality Pokhara (पोखरा is a city of close to 200000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28 There, uniforms and badges of the GC are on display together with those serving with the British Army [7]. Locals and tourists alike have visited the place, a reflection of the high regard local Nepalese hold for their counterparts who have served in these overseas organisations.
Despite their temporary employment basis, it is considered highly honourable to serve as a GC member back in Nepal, and there is always a ready pool of young men eager to join the contingent, with well over 20,000 applications seeking to join the British Army or the GC annually for just 370 places. The good income, way of life, and the affordable and excellent education for their children (or future children) are further draws. Education in Singapore is managed by Ministry of Education (MOE which directs Education policy. With the increasing concerns against terrorism and the continued security threat Singapore face, it is likely the GC will have an increased and sustained role in Singapore's future, despite original intentions of the contingent itself as a temporary security measure during Singapore's early turbulent years. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion
Immigration status
About 2,000 Gurkhas contribute to the Singapore government. After 6 years of service they are allowed to bring their wife and children to Singapore until the end of their service. However their children are not allowed to stay after reaching twenty-one years of age. If this rule is not met, they can be arrested by the immigration authorities. The children are only allowed to study in Singapore. The children along with their wives are also not allowed to seek any kind of employment.
References
- ^ 2005 Budget Estimates - Ministry of Home Affairs. Ministry of Finance (2005). The Ministry of Finance ( Abbreviation: MOF; Simplified Chinese: 新加坡财政部 is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that administers
- ^ House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 5 Jul 2004 (pt 37). Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories
- ^ History of Aikido Shinju-Kai (Part 1). Aikido Shinju-Kai Singapore.
- ^ Reaching Out to Help. British Club, Singapore (14 September 05).
- ^ Official site. Homeland Security Partners.
- ^ "Ganga, Jamuna expected to return home in October" (reprint), Nepal: The Kathmandu Post, August 26, 2001.
See also
- Gurkha Reserve Unit - a similar type force in Brunei
External links
- Gurkha Contingent
- Hindu Warriors Guard Singapore From Terror
- The Gurkhas Have Unusual Talents
- Gurkha recruitment in UK
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