Should Fijian-born soldier Isimeli Baleiwai be given UK Citizenship ?

by **donough** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:48 am

An ex British Soldier who has seen action in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq , who is married to a British National and has a family, as been refused citizenship and leave to remain, because he had a military disciplinary offence for something minor that was against Army rules, not the law. But under a technicality they are treated the same as criminal convictions . Am I the only one who thinks this is morally repugnant. They have allowed Muslim Hate Preachers like Abu Qatada and Hamza Leave to Remain , but someone who has risked his life four the UK has fallen fowl of the system.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18940236

by **armin** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:00 am

no idea

by **danil70** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:03 am

They should but they won't anything the government does is not in our interests.

by **favian** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:05 am

I think the real travesty here is that an army disciplinary carries the same weight as a conviction handed down under the auspices of law and criminal justice. The army should not have such a privileged position in our society (just as criminal acts in uniform should be dealt with by courts civil and not courts martial). I think L/Cpl Baleiwai should have every right to remain and indeed be given his citizenship.

by **bergh39** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:10 am

Personally, yes I think he should be allowed to stay. But the rules are very strict, and despite loyal service to this country, if he was in the wrong and had a fight with a collegue, then it will make a difference. I think that everyone makes mistakes though, and one would have thought he should be allowed to stay in this case.

by **denys** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:21 am

Personally, yes I think he should be allowed to stay. But the rules are very strict, and despite loyal service to this country, if he was in the wrong and had a fight with a collegue, then it will make a difference. I think that everyone makes mistakes though, and one would have thought he should be allowed to stay in this case.

Yes !!

by **gwynethpaltrow8** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:32 am

I agree that he should be given his nationality not least because the crime he was convicted of was a result of problems in his life as a result of a tour of duty in Afghanistan. The Army should have caught that prior to the case and provided him with support.

by **wardell** » Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:37 am

No, he should not be given citizenship. He is as accountable to the rules as anyone else, and if the rules are waived then any other less deserving-desirable could claim discretion. The system does stink though, a minor infraction on the serviceman's record should not be taken as justification to deny him his rights, however the rules come from Europe not the UK. If they can allow some of the filth into the country with much worse crimes then it stands to reason that this man could stay.
Nonetheless the process should take its course.

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