just hope

These days, Nepalis not Singaporeans guard some of the city's most senstive sites.

Gurkha soldiers - widely regarded as the most fearsome fighters in the world, are on the frontline of the city-state as Singaopre clamps down on Islamic militancy in the wake of the September 11 attacks in the United States.

The Gurkhas' main strength is their impartiality in the multiracial city-state of four million people.

Not being influenced by the local scene is part of their concept in Singapore. They just don't get emotionally involved in anything they may get caught up with

They are unique here in the sense that the Gurkhas are police officers... While a soldier is perhaps out there to kill people, Gurkhas here are essentially present to maintain the peace, and protect people and property.

Yet, a Gurkha cop is still a Gurkha. According to legend, once his kukri dagger has been drawn in battle, it must "taste blood". If it has not, its master has to cut himself before returning it to its sheath.

Stationed in Singapore on a temporary mission, the Gurkhas do not sink deep roots into the city's soil. They are not allowed to.

The principle of impartiality even forbids them to marry Singaporean women.

So far, only two or three of them have broken the tradition and chosen to stay in Singapore instead of returning to Nepal, one of the world's poorest countries and torn by a six-year-old Maoist rebellion that has claimed some 3500 lives.

********** **********

It is depressing to know that Nepalese are not allowed to stay permanently in Singapore, especially when one of them is your colleague/friend.
It is the feeling of being cast away from a country where you resided for the past 20 years and then they stripped off the opportunity for you to even continue working here.

It is unbelievably harsh.

And deep in our hearts, we know the reason why he would not be allowed but we will not stop trying for a miracle.

Hang in there Sobi. Don't give up yet.