Isimeli Baleiwai served 13 years in the British Army, including tours in Bosnia, Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan - you know, pretty much everywhere the British Army has been in the last 13 years. Last year, he was fined by his CO for getting into a scrap with another soldier. No witnesses were questioned, no investigation was undertaken, no jury was convened. Baleiwai accepted the fine and moved on. The Border Agency has decided that fighting is not a trait to be tolerated in soldiers, and so has branded Baleiwai as being of poor character (I'd like to brand the UKBA peon who came to that conclusion with a hot iron). They've given him until the 9th of August to say goodbye to his British wife and his two British children and to bugger off back where he came from. If you think this is a disgusting state of affairs, there is a petition here. Apparently this is not an uncommon occurrence, but should we be surprised when politicians promise to clamp down on non EU immigration?
I think that's a ridiculous decision. I signed it and recommended it to others I know who will also most likely sign it.
he would of got fined on orders for this to happen you have to assume responsibility, and accept a CO's decision they usually do this not wanting to go to a court matial that could give him a custodial sentence.
Is there a link to the report/article you got this from? I find it hard to believe to be honest and would like to try and find out more details, but if it's true it's a pretty crummy situation. 13 years public service on tope of wife/kids who are citizens? Even if he did something horrible I don't see how there would be any grounds to deport somebody.
Huh. The impression I got was fighting was frowned upon but also accepted as a natural past time for soldiers. Sucky state of affairs and people far more deserving of deportation. Signy signed
I don't see how a country could deny somebody citizenship when they served it for 13 years on top of having a wife and children who are citizens, on top of getting good review/recommendation by a superior officer. The transfer of military "crimes" into the civilian world is also completely ridiculous in this particular case. A brawl is not theft, rape, or anything that really matters all that much. Not to mention the mental state he claims to have been in. Hopefully it all gets settled the right way and he's able to stay.
As far as I'm concerned, if it wasn't serious enough to get him a dishonourable discharge, it wasn't serious enough to get him deported.
Signed. more here.http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/a...-army-and-given-three-weeks-to-leave-britain/
I know, I could only read one page, as bad as the daily mail sometimes. I originally googled "Bale Baleiwai guardian". But the telegraph seams to be the only paper covering it.
What a load of rubbish.Its things like this that make me despair of the UK.Its just political correctness gone mad.The guy was employed to fight.What do they expect him to do in his spare time? Flower arranging?
This is deplorable! Instead of treating this man with honor and dignity for his service, and the conflict having been resolved with the fine, they opt instead to unjustly punish him for a regrettable situation of which there was no investigation done? 13 years of service in deadly wars and conflicts, and married to a British national of which they have British children? They should have given him the citizenship without him even having to apply. I hope whoever is responsible for this is disciplined; for heaven's sake this man has no criminal record! Isn't that something to take into consideration without even counting his service or family?
As an individual who has served in the US Military, I find this to be a ploy to make this individual an example.. Military personnel have brawls now and then and if this individual was not court martialed for his actions, He should just get non judicial punishment and face the situation.. This is not something that the polticians should not get involved with just to be politically correct..
If he has a British wife and children then it's a violation of his right to a family life under the European Convention on Human Rights to deport him, so he won't be going anywhere.
