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Table of Contents
SHOULD THE CHAGOS ISLANDS BE A MARINE RESERVE OR SHOULD THEY BE RESETTLED?
RESETTLEMENT EFFORTS BY CHAGOSSIANS.
INTRODUCTION
The main aim of this essay is to provide an insight on the topic “should the Chagos Island be a marine reserve or should they be resettled”? I particularly intend to answer this stimulating topic by providing the study, research work and opinions of various researchers and analyst regarding this topic.
During the period of 1968 to 1973, the entire Chagos archipelago was evacuated by the British government to form a US military base at Diego Garcia, one of the biggest islands of Chagos. The document for leasing needs to be renewed in 2016.currently, the major and highly significant dispute is between the British government and the inhabitants of Chagos (which are commonly known as chagossians) regarding their right to return and resettlement on the Chagos Island. During 1998 to 2009, a case was filed by the chagossians’ lawyer in the British courts regarding their right to return. These efforts of chagossians yielded nothing and the results were in favors of the British government. In 2009, the European human right team decided to resume this case but there were no significant results and it is held pending by the British court.
On April 1, 2010 the British government declared chagos island a marine protection area (MPA).a marine protection area is an area in which commercial fishing is banned. This decision of British government was criticized by the Mauritius government and Mauritius government filed a complaint to the international tribunal on the law of the sea, persuading the incompatibility of MPA with United Nations convention. The status of the complaint is still incomplete and will remain so for many upcoming years. The liberal democrats and conservative claimed that they would change the British policy regarding the MPA of chagos islands but no visible efforts have been seen.
A team is being sent by the UK government to the Chagos Island to check the feasibility and practicality of living at the Chagos Island, which was evacuated 40 years ago by the British government to form a US military base. The independent analysts are instructed to determine and analyze the issues and complications involved in the establishment of various communities and colonies on the outer part of island as well as Diego Garcia.
BACKGROUND
Chagos archipelago comprises of 60 tropical islands which are in the center of India’s ocean. During 1965 the UK government separated the Chagos Island from Mauritius through councils order. The purpose of separation of Chagos Island from Mauritius was to create a new colony to carry out defense operation. This colony is now known as “British Indian ocean territory (BIOT)”. The amount of $4.2 million was given to Mauritius for providing the Chagos Island. Moreover an undertaking was also signed in the presence of order in council which assured that the islands will be returned to Mauritius, once they are of no use for defense purposes.
During the period of 1968 to 1973, the entire chagos archipelago was evacuated by the British government to form a US military base at Diego Garcia, one of the biggest islands of chagos. Diego Garcia was leased to US government for a period of fifty years by the UK government under exchange of note in 1966[1]. According to this, the leasing will continue for 20 more years after 2016 unless a termination notice is provided by any of the two parties before 2014[2].
In 1971, an immigration ordinance was passed due to which it was illegal for any individual to live in BIOT without authorization. Due to this very reason, civilian were removed from the islands and were not allowed to return. Many campaigners proclaim that chagossians were not even told that they are not allowed to return and they are leaving on permanent basis[3].
For settlement of chagossians in Mauritius an amount of 650,000 GBP was provided by the UK government to Mauritius government in 1970’s.the major issue that arises from the events of early 1960’s is between the UK government and chagossians regarding their right to return. The government of Mauritius has claimed that BIOT was illegally separated from mauritus.uk has rejected all claims by the Mauritius government and has signed an undertaking which involves surrendering of chagos islands to Mauritius, once they are of no use for defense purposes. Moreover, the Mauritius government is also now supporting the chagossians on the issue of return and resettlement on island.
SHOULD THE CHAGOS ISLANDS BE A MARINE RESERVE OR SHOULD THEY BE RESETTLED?
It was in 1997 when the chagossians decided to fight for their homeland and for their right to return. Several legal actions were taken by the chagossians but there were no visible outcomes. The major dispute which has turned into a burning issue is between the chagossians and British government regarding their right to return. The aim of this research paper is to provide an insight and a clear answer to the question that whether chagos islands should be a marine reserve or it should be resettled.
From the history stated above it is undoubtedly visible that the eviction of chagossians was a result of confusion and chagossians were not even aware of the reality that they are leaving permanently. The UK government began the eviction process by starving the chagossians. The basic food items that include milk, sugar, salt etc. were stopped supplying. The chagossians were further told that the islands will be bombed in case they don’t leave. Further, in 1971 orders were passed by the US government to kill all the pets on the islands. The pets were gassed and the chagos islanders were told that they will be treated in the same manner if they will not leave. All the remaining chagossians were then placed on a ship named Nordvaer and were allowed to carry only one bag. Marie Lisette talate, a chagossians said:
“The animals that were on the Nordvaer was us “chagossians””.
This was how the chagossians were evicted from their homeland. Is this not injustice, unethical? Taking away someone’s home is itself wrong on moral grounds but treating them like animals is above wrong and demands true justice….
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