THE ISSUE
-----------------------------------------A Conspiracy: Plight of the Chagossians
-----------------------------------------
Natalie Li
-----------------------------------------
Situated in the Indian Ocean lies some of the remote islands in the world. Lush and abundant, the Chagos Islands once represented a piece of unspoilt paradise. However, during the late 1960s an entire population was expelled from these islands to make way for a giant American military base. These events mark one of the most shocking violations of international law.
A British colonial film shot during the 1950s demonstrated the tough lives of the Chagossians. Their geographical isolation would always pose problems with supplies, however the film noted the people of the island were surrounded by beauty and tranquillity. Their survival depended on a thriving crop industry which would see further growth throughout the 1960s.
It was 1966 when the fate of the Chagossians was decided by the British government of Harold Wilson. A military agreement was signed with the UN allowing them to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island. It has never been officially admitted whether the US paid Britain for Diego Garcia.The deal was never discussed in parliament and so was carried out without media coverage. Certainly much uproar would have ensued, yet a shrewd plan to expel an entire population was underway to prioritise for a US military base.
Diego Garcia was perfectly positioned to observe the activities of the Soviet Navy. It was left to the British government to cautiously remove the inhabitants. This was achieved through a number of careful tactics. In 1967 the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) bought out Chagos Agalega, which ran the crop plantations. Over the next few years, instead of investing into this purchase, the crops were left to ruin and as supplies were increasingly cut off from the islands, the islanders were forced to move out to both nearby islands, Maurititus and the Seychelles. Some Chagossians often visited Mauritius to visit relatives and to purchase supplies. During the plans for expulsion, British officials told the islanders visiting Mauritius they could not leave the island. The Chagossians were helplessly stranded away from their beloved islands Some Chagossians later revealed they were offered boat trips to Mauritius and forced to remain in Mauritius.
Many of the Chagossians who were cruelly removed from their homeland suffered from heartache and died from the immense shock. The elderly perished, traumatised by the expulsion. Everything they owned and loved was left on their islands. The place where they had spent their whole lives, where their fathers and forefathers were buried was wrenched from their grasp by the cruellest of methods.
Oblivious to the future which lay ahead, the islanders left with minimal possessions. The Mauritian capital, Port Louis, was to become their home. One Mauritian, who remembers the influx of Chagossians tells me today how the islanders were isolated: "They (the Chagossians) were not welcome as they landed up with no skills. They couldn't work and offered little to the city".
The Chagossians indeed found difficulty in seeking work and remained on the fringes of society. Most lived in the slums of Port Louis, enduring a life of squalor and poverty. Many died from these living conditions, infected by disease. Some committed suicide, lost and helpless by an escapable position.
Exiled, the Chagossians began protesting instantly and over the years support for their situation grew in Mauritius. Many went on hunger strikes and a petition was taken to the Mauritian government, demanding compensation and the right to return to their home. The British government did offer £650,000 in compensation in 1973. Sadly this arrived little too late for the many who had already perished at the hands of foreign policy. In 1979, in a bid to quieten the Chagossians, the British government offered a further £1.25 million on the terms that the islanders would never return. This, of course, was rejected.
The British government has continued over the decades to maintain that the Chagossians are integrated and settled into Mauritian and Seychellese society. They have been simply disregarded as former plantation workers. The British have refused to draw attention to the plight of the Chagossians as governments have changed over the years. Journalists have been banned from visiting Diego Garcia and MP visits are rare. The British government have shied away from their shameful decisions. The government policy files, housed in the National Archives in London, outline Britain's plans to 'relocate' the Chagossian. The reports contain correspondence between Britain and embassies abroad. The files trace Britain's recognition of their unlawful actions and their insistence in maintaining the information remains guarded for as long as possible.
Indeed, specific details were kept under lock and key for many years however in 2004 a special report was collated by journalist John Pilger and aired in Britain on ITV. The programme covered the events of the past decades featuring interviews with both the Chagossians and the British government. Foreign Office Minister at the time, Bill Rammell, asserted the view of his predecessors by stating:
"I don't feel ashamed because I took what I believe, and the government took a responsible decision in the circumstances almost 40 years after the last Chagossian lived within these islands…"
Responsible decision? To depopulate remote islands in the most inhumane way, causing death and isolation to a nation which continues to struggle decades on? Bill Rammell's words represent the ignorance and stupidity of the very government we live under. To this day the importance of Diego Garcia to the military strategy of the US has forced Britain to remain unshakable in allowing the islanders back home. The base has become paramount today especially in the wake of terrorist attacks. Britain continues to argue that if the islanders should return, long-term resettlement would prove costly and problematic.
The Chagossians have continuously placed pressure on the government. They finally won some victory in 2000 in a high ruling allowing the islanders to return to the outlying islands, except Diego Garcia. This was overturned in 2004 by Bill Rammell.
So what does the future hold for the exiled Chagossians? In March this year the exiled islanders finally returned to their lands where they began a ten day journey, visiting Diego Garcia to visit the graves of their homes, churches and the grave yards of their ancestors.
Following this visit, in May, after thirty years in exile, the Chagossians won the right to return home after the previous orders in 2004 were overturned. The judges were cutting in their opinion of the British policy. They criticised the Government for their exiling of a whole population and claiming this was for the 'peace, order and good government' of a territory.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has now been left with the decision as to whether the islanders should return or not to re-establish their homes in peace. Whether the government accept the motion has yet to be seen. Oliver Bancoult, the leader of the Chagossians delievered a letter to No.10 after the hearing asking the Prime Minister to favour the decision and allow the islanders to return once and for all.
Persistent lobbying by the Chagossians will undoubtedly continue until the government relent. As the plight of the islanders has gained more and more media coverage, will the government buckle as the Chagossians receive increased support from the British public and from those over the world?
For too long the British government has ignored from their shameful decisions, denying this conspiracy and placing the rights of a nation to the lowest denominator. For a country priding itself on the championing of human rights, Britain has successfully contradicted itself.
For further information:
www.chagossupport.org.uk
www.chagos.org
A British colonial film shot during the 1950s demonstrated the tough lives of the Chagossians. Their geographical isolation would always pose problems with supplies, however the film noted the people of the island were surrounded by beauty and tranquillity. Their survival depended on a thriving crop industry which would see further growth throughout the 1960s.
It was 1966 when the fate of the Chagossians was decided by the British government of Harold Wilson. A military agreement was signed with the UN allowing them to lease Diego Garcia, the largest island. It has never been officially admitted whether the US paid Britain for Diego Garcia.The deal was never discussed in parliament and so was carried out without media coverage. Certainly much uproar would have ensued, yet a shrewd plan to expel an entire population was underway to prioritise for a US military base.
Diego Garcia was perfectly positioned to observe the activities of the Soviet Navy. It was left to the British government to cautiously remove the inhabitants. This was achieved through a number of careful tactics. In 1967 the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) bought out Chagos Agalega, which ran the crop plantations. Over the next few years, instead of investing into this purchase, the crops were left to ruin and as supplies were increasingly cut off from the islands, the islanders were forced to move out to both nearby islands, Maurititus and the Seychelles. Some Chagossians often visited Mauritius to visit relatives and to purchase supplies. During the plans for expulsion, British officials told the islanders visiting Mauritius they could not leave the island. The Chagossians were helplessly stranded away from their beloved islands Some Chagossians later revealed they were offered boat trips to Mauritius and forced to remain in Mauritius.
Many of the Chagossians who were cruelly removed from their homeland suffered from heartache and died from the immense shock. The elderly perished, traumatised by the expulsion. Everything they owned and loved was left on their islands. The place where they had spent their whole lives, where their fathers and forefathers were buried was wrenched from their grasp by the cruellest of methods.
Oblivious to the future which lay ahead, the islanders left with minimal possessions. The Mauritian capital, Port Louis, was to become their home. One Mauritian, who remembers the influx of Chagossians tells me today how the islanders were isolated: "They (the Chagossians) were not welcome as they landed up with no skills. They couldn't work and offered little to the city".
The Chagossians indeed found difficulty in seeking work and remained on the fringes of society. Most lived in the slums of Port Louis, enduring a life of squalor and poverty. Many died from these living conditions, infected by disease. Some committed suicide, lost and helpless by an escapable position.
Exiled, the Chagossians began protesting instantly and over the years support for their situation grew in Mauritius. Many went on hunger strikes and a petition was taken to the Mauritian government, demanding compensation and the right to return to their home. The British government did offer £650,000 in compensation in 1973. Sadly this arrived little too late for the many who had already perished at the hands of foreign policy. In 1979, in a bid to quieten the Chagossians, the British government offered a further £1.25 million on the terms that the islanders would never return. This, of course, was rejected.
The British government has continued over the decades to maintain that the Chagossians are integrated and settled into Mauritian and Seychellese society. They have been simply disregarded as former plantation workers. The British have refused to draw attention to the plight of the Chagossians as governments have changed over the years. Journalists have been banned from visiting Diego Garcia and MP visits are rare. The British government have shied away from their shameful decisions. The government policy files, housed in the National Archives in London, outline Britain's plans to 'relocate' the Chagossian. The reports contain correspondence between Britain and embassies abroad. The files trace Britain's recognition of their unlawful actions and their insistence in maintaining the information remains guarded for as long as possible.
Indeed, specific details were kept under lock and key for many years however in 2004 a special report was collated by journalist John Pilger and aired in Britain on ITV. The programme covered the events of the past decades featuring interviews with both the Chagossians and the British government. Foreign Office Minister at the time, Bill Rammell, asserted the view of his predecessors by stating:
"I don't feel ashamed because I took what I believe, and the government took a responsible decision in the circumstances almost 40 years after the last Chagossian lived within these islands…"
Responsible decision? To depopulate remote islands in the most inhumane way, causing death and isolation to a nation which continues to struggle decades on? Bill Rammell's words represent the ignorance and stupidity of the very government we live under. To this day the importance of Diego Garcia to the military strategy of the US has forced Britain to remain unshakable in allowing the islanders back home. The base has become paramount today especially in the wake of terrorist attacks. Britain continues to argue that if the islanders should return, long-term resettlement would prove costly and problematic.
The Chagossians have continuously placed pressure on the government. They finally won some victory in 2000 in a high ruling allowing the islanders to return to the outlying islands, except Diego Garcia. This was overturned in 2004 by Bill Rammell.
So what does the future hold for the exiled Chagossians? In March this year the exiled islanders finally returned to their lands where they began a ten day journey, visiting Diego Garcia to visit the graves of their homes, churches and the grave yards of their ancestors.
Following this visit, in May, after thirty years in exile, the Chagossians won the right to return home after the previous orders in 2004 were overturned. The judges were cutting in their opinion of the British policy. They criticised the Government for their exiling of a whole population and claiming this was for the 'peace, order and good government' of a territory.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has now been left with the decision as to whether the islanders should return or not to re-establish their homes in peace. Whether the government accept the motion has yet to be seen. Oliver Bancoult, the leader of the Chagossians delievered a letter to No.10 after the hearing asking the Prime Minister to favour the decision and allow the islanders to return once and for all.
Persistent lobbying by the Chagossians will undoubtedly continue until the government relent. As the plight of the islanders has gained more and more media coverage, will the government buckle as the Chagossians receive increased support from the British public and from those over the world?
For too long the British government has ignored from their shameful decisions, denying this conspiracy and placing the rights of a nation to the lowest denominator. For a country priding itself on the championing of human rights, Britain has successfully contradicted itself.
For further information:
www.chagossupport.org.uk
www.chagos.org
