Watching BBC TV News earlier and they interviewed Nick Brown, a former Minister in the Tony Blair's government (Agriculture amongst others). He expressed the opinion that one major reason for their poor results in the local elections was that the perception of many voters was that the Government did not represent the issues that concerned them. On hearing that, 3 green lights inside my brain switched on and another epistle was born.
Dear Mr Brown
I was interested to hear your interview on BBC TV News this evening in which you stated that a major reason for your Party’s poor results in the local elections was due, in part, because the Electorate perceived that their elected representatives were un-willing to support the issues that concern them most.
You are correct in that assertion. Some 35 000 veterans of the Malaya Emer-gency/Borneo Confrontation have been treated in the most mean and undemocratic manner over the awarding of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia. This medal was graciously of-fered to all Commonwealth veterans of those Campaigns from the date of Malaysian Independence in 1957 through to the end of the conflict in 1966.
I notice that one of your interests is Australia, so you are probably aware that the Australian and New Zealand governments were swift to recommend to Her Maj-esty that their veterans be allowed to accept and wear the medal. Our own HD Com-mittee, a non-elected Qango with no accountability, eventually decided to waive the two rules that would normally bar acceptance of a foreign medal and recommended to Her Majesty that British veterans be allowed to accept the award. They then promptly re-invoked one of the rules to forbid the “formal” wearing of the medal.
This action has created a second-class veteran status amongst the British. It has insulted them and the Agong, government and people of Malaysia, a friendly Commonwealth nation. It also trivialises the sacrifices made by those who never re-turned from the jungle.
In all of our contacts with the MoD we are told that it is not their brief, but that of the FCO, who inform us that it is a matter for the Cabinet Office. They in their turn do not respond to any of our contacts as they feel that they not obliged to do so. Your colleague, Mr Ian Pearson of the FCO, who made the original Ministerial Statement, has confirmed however, that there is no legislation that can be used to enforce the “no wear” rule. So why was it invoked in the first place? We are all now aging civilians in our 60’s and 70’s, so who will be offended at the sight of us on Parade in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday wearing this medal, with pride, alongside any other medals that we may have earned during our loyal service to the Crown and Country?
In August of this year we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the end of the con-flict, something which the MoD appears not to know. They announced last week that next year will see a commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the Falklands Con-flict. Yet in the 60 years since the end of WWII we have seen no similar initiative for Korea, Malaya, Borneo, Cyprus, Aden and all of the other conflicts that saw loss of life and injury to British personnel.
Given the special significance of August 2006 to the veterans of Ma-laya/Borneo, what better time to announce that the ridiculous decision to prohibit the wearing of the PJM has been reversed? The 600+ Members of Parliament are elected by the people to represent their interests. The 35 000 British veterans form a large group of those who elect the MP’s. To ignore their wishes in this matter is to create an injustice as well as to exceed the bounds of honesty and fair play. Politicians are very keen to use the sound bite or photo call to express the gratitude owed by the nation to its veterans. It’s time that those words were given the substance of action.
There is a Campaign group fighting for this right to be recognised. It is non-political and receives no financial backing from any group. In 3 months it has at-tracted over 500 registrations, and the Campaign is supported by over 100 of your col-leagues in the House of Commons, across all Parties. We also have the backing of 2 holders of the VC, one of whom also qualifies for the PJM. Dame Vera Lynn has also given us her support. How then, given such a wide range of support, and in such depth, can any democracy continue to deprive a large group of its citizens such a fun-damental right? I urge you to visit our web site at www.fight4thepjm.org and gauge for yourself the strength of feeling. I then ask you to use your position to actively support the cause. Perhaps an Early Day Motion might be one way to get the topic aired and cleared once and for all?
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Gerald Law (ex RAF Borneo Veteran)
