No English, no stamp: Update: He's been sacked

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... 327019.ece" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AN IMMIGRANT postmaster has BANNED customers who cannot speak English — so they learn the language.

Sri Lankan-born Deva Kumarasiri said: “If you come to Britain you have got to speak English. It’s as simple as that.

“If things don’t change we’ll start seeing second and third generations of immigrants who can’t speak English. That will cause deep divisions. We will see ghettos and all the problems that come with them.”

He spoke out after The Sun told yesterday how a huge influx of immigrants has taken the number of kids in British schools who do not have English as a first language to ONE MILLION.

Deva has refused to serve half a dozen customers since imposing his rule on Monday at his Sneinton Boulevard Post Office in Nottingham.

He said those unable to even ask for stamps wasted everyone’s time and infuriated other customers.

But he agreed to serve those who returned to the store with interpreters — and said each one had done so.

The 40-year-old father of two — who quickly learned English after arriving here 18 years ago — said: “When I left Sri Lanka I left behind that country’s culture, customs and language.

“I came to Britain and have done my utmost ever since to be part of this country’s culture.

“The fabric of the nation begins to unravel if we don’t all speak the same language.

“You can’t be wholly part of British culture if you don’t speak the language. There are far too many people who come to this country and expect Britain to change to suit them. It’s high time that mind-set went.

“I feel that as an outsider who now feels he belongs that I can tell others what they should do.”

Deva, who calls customers “Duck” and “Dear” went on: “For instance, an Asian woman came in here on Tuesday and I insisted she spoke to me in English.

“She replied that she preferred to speak in her mother tongue, but I told her that Britain was now her motherland and therefore she should speak English.”

He said not one person he sent away had objected. Each had returned with a friend to explain they were trying to learn English.

He added: “I simply explained I cannot give a service if they cannot tell me what they want and they seemed to take it well.

“That is my rule now and I intend sticking to it.

“I decided to make this stand because I think too many British people are afraid to speak up. They are afraid of being branded racist.

“Perhaps it’s a view better coming from a man with my background.

“Of course I don’t expect immigrants to be fluent overnight. Lots of people struggle to master another language but they get much more respect if they at least try.

“It’s about making the effort to be part of the community where you have decided to live. I don’t think it’s a lot to ask.

“In Sri Lanka the kids have courtesy. They have discipline. Here all that is gone. Let’s work together to bring back all this.

“This is about unity among the people in this country who are proud to live here, whether they are Asian, black or white.”

Deva — who flies Union Flags in his front garden and from his car — lives with wife Durga, a 39-year-old nurse, and the couple’s daughters Shahani, ten, and Heshini, eight. Both girls want to join the RAF when they grow up.

Deva said: “Recently I asked my children if they knew the words to the National Anthem but was shocked when they said they didn’t. I had assumed they would have been taught it at school. I told them I want them to learn it.”

Deva, a Liberal Democrat councillor, has even set up a website, http://www.britishnessforever.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

In Sneinton, Polish electrician Paul Kazmierczak, 34, backed the campaign. He said: “Deva is right. There is no excuse for not speaking English.”

And local Jacob Amoni, 29, from Ethiopia, agreed, saying: “Being able to speak English is a big help.”

But Afzal Sadiq, of the local Racial Equality Council, said: “The service is there for everybody — not just for everybody who can speak the language. I understand the aspiration, but denying someone a public service on the grounds of language is wrong.”

And a Royal Mail spokeswoman said: “Post Office branches are a vital part of all communities and are open to all customers. We are taking steps to ensure this happens at Sneinton Boulevard Post Office.”

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Links to same story from different news sites:

Immigrant Postmaster in Britain Denies Non-English Speakers Service
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,509686,00.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Speak English, demands postmaster
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... -CdK2lZatw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Postmaster bans non-English speakers
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.htm ... page_id=34" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Post office boss bans customers with poor English
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/homen ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I'm standing up for Britain, says Sri Lankan postmaster who won't serve migrants who won't learn English
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... glish.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Thorby Bislam]

For a less hysterical treatment of the story than the s*n's.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nott ... 951778.stm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have to say, he does speak good english.

[NWpostie]

Its a fair comment, you should learn the language if you are going to live here, its makes it easier for everybody, immigrants included, cheaper as there is less translation service, printing, sign postings.

[johnsouthwales]

read it in da mirror this morn.. fair do's..

what if a tourist came in who is just simply a tourist?

does this mean that the shopkeeper is representing the postoffice as a spokesperson on behalf of post office ltd and is mandatory to speak english only?

lucky welsh is not compulsory in wales and if it was welsh speakers only in postoffices, u'd all be fekd lol

[johnsouthwales]

cant understand a word he's saying.. his dialect is erm..... get that when i ring call centres too for some strange reason.. i get an indian guy saying that he can't understand my accent rofL.. potential race relations problem imment .................

[IWW Fellow Worker]

I hope this idea spreads. Imagine trying to get served in a pub in Sawnsea and the barman refusing until you ask in Welsh. Or, you nip into a grocers in Glasgow and they don't serve you unless you ask in Gaelic.

[heapsy]

Think this bloke deserves a pat on the back, he's right. I can understand the issue over tourists, or even those who may have just arrived, but he is right. There are places in Britain now that have almost completely no English as a first language in the schools. This I am sure is happening in the comunities in general in some parts of the country, and it HAS to be stopped NOW. We cannot allow this sort of thing to happen because this will only create further isolation, breaking down whole communities and will result in seperate gettos where they think the laws should be different.
There are two examples of this that I would like to mention. One was actually in thr USA. It concerned an American born man of (I think) Italian origin. He placed a sign up in the window of his deli saying "English Please" He was taken to the federal court in the US as it was seen as racist. He WON the case. He explained, as did the man in this article that English should be the language spoken as America spoke English. He got loads of people backing him.
The second story has a slightly darker, more sinister side to it.
Here in Manchester there is a well known district called Cheetham Hill which for years was known to be a heavily populated area of people from the Jewish community, including new immigrants.
Over the years this has changed, and more people of other backgrounds have moved in, Africans and Asians mainly.
A sign was placed in the window of a shop clearly stating " NO WHITES". As you can imagine, this caused a huge outrage and the shop keeper was ordered to remove it.
My point to this post is simple, use English, because that is the language of these islands. If this is not enforced, just how does any politician hope to create intigration and harmony?
We have seen, with quite devasting effect in recent times, just how dangerous, the non intigrated, so called, dissafected youths of certain backgrounds, who claim they are hard done by, can be. Even though their parents brought them here, or they may have actually been born here, to give THEM a better life thn they would have had back in their families country of origin. SOME people seem to think that they can create their OWN little country withing a country and have their OWN rules and laws.
This is not so, and cannot, no matter how liberal minded people may be, be allowed to happen.

[johnsouthwales]

maybe they cant go and learn english cos theyre illegals innit.... like his postofice contract will say, post office is for all... could end up bringing postoffice ltd into disrepute. probably it be all done and dusted tomorrow.. something else will come along lol

[NWpostie]

maybe they cant go and learn english cos theyre illegals innit.... like his postofice contract will say, post office is for all... could end up bringing postoffice ltd into disrepute. probably it be all done and dusted tomorrow.. something else will come along lol

The Illegals then shouldn't be here, proves a point really, illegals have no intention of playing by the rules why should they be allowed to access to services if they have no status here, if you speak English chances are you have the right to be here and is integrating.

Its ironic that it took an Immigrant to say what we all say in private.
He said he believes that Britain is the best Country in teh world and I agree 110% with him, I have been round the world and been to a lot of Countries including USA, I can honestly say that hand on heart that Great Britain is truely the best Country in the world in spite of all the problems its are having right now, it does have a lot going for it, beautiful Countryside, British Pubs, shedloads of History, Culture, easy transport links you can manage without a car if you had to, different Cultures and sunshine only a short flight away, yep its a great place to be, unfortunately so do everybody else, hence the need to control immigartion and only allow those we really need in this Country and get rid of non integrationist wasters, spongers who hate this Country such as radical muslims, terrorists.

[johnsouthwales]

of course people should have some understanding of our language.. id be well fooked if i went somewhere where i had no idea of what they were banging on about

seems strange that an original immigrant should be acting this way. is it his position to say it? probably there'd be riots if an MP said the same thing, and probably someone in parliament is silently thanking him lol.

still was unprofessional mind..makes the p.o look bad

[johnsouthwales]

tuts... why do you think indians speak english?? britain invaded the fookin place in the first place... and britains were immigrants in their country since robert clive lol.. did britain learn to speak irdu or punjabi? doubt it..

[NWpostie]

If I move to Spain or Germany, I would make every effort to learn the Language, the local culture, so I can get involved with the local scenen and access to services, also read warning signs, safety notices, make friends, integrate 110%

even with Caanda and USA having the same Language the Culture is different so you have to take that on board.

[johnsouthwales]

yeah.. those usa people are well mad too... tatally diferent planet altogether mind lol... some of them are ok.

[Pinky 1]

I hope this idea spreads. Imagine trying to get served in a pub in Sawnsea and the barman refusing until you ask in Welsh. Or, you nip into a grocers in Glasgow and they don't serve you unless you ask in Gaelic.

"Ceiswch eto fy ffrind, os dych chi ddim yn gwybod beth i ofyn am yn Gymraeg wedyn dydwi ddim yn eich gosod chi!
Dych chi wedi darganfod y drws unwaith, nawr darganfwch e eto!"