Chagos Archipelago is a chain of islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, administered by the United Kingdom. Diego Garcia, the largest island, is home to a US military base, lying in the southern part of the Archipelago. Mauritius has, under international law, sovereignty over the group of islands.

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History

Colonies were established in Mauritius successively by the Dutch East India Company, France, and it was finally transferred to the UK in 1814. Chagos Archipelago was administered as a dependency of Mauritius, by the UK. The economy of the islands was driven by coconut plantations and its derivative products.

In 1965, the Chagos Archipelago was separated from Mauritius, along with a group of islands from Seychelles, to form the British Indian Ocean Territory, despite resistance from Mauritian leaders. The islands were “purchased” by the UK for £3 million. The UK said that the territory would be returned when there is no longer defensive necessity for the islands. While the UK continued to maintain that there were loose cultural connections between Mauritius and the islands, it said that it would maintain sovereignty over them even if one were to consider that there were cultural connections.

Diego Garcia, the largest island, was scouted by the US military, initially originating from India’s request for American assistance in the Sino-Indian war of 1962, although the base was used for tracking the Soviet navy during the Cold War Era, and post Cold War, for activities in the Gulf War, and Iraq and Afghanistan post-9/11. The island was leased to the US in 1966 for a period of 50 years, to be extended by 20 more years till 2036 [which was unilaterally done by the UK].

Terms for a US lease on the prospective military base area were negotiated and agreed at $1 per year. The United States required the islands to be 'swept and sanitised' so as to be handed over uninhabited, for a base, ironically named “Camp Justice”. In return, the UK was to receive continued support for its so-called 'independent nuclear deterrent' and a £14 million discount on the supply of its submarine-launched Polaris ICBM system. Mauritius’ proposal that the islands be used for US military purposes in exchange for economically beneficial deals like increasing quota of sugar imports into the US, was rejected by the UK.

In 1965, ther

My spouse and I went to Chago's last night for the first time. It was really good and we'll be going back.

I highly recommend the Maduros (sweet, fried plaintains). Delicious.

Motion to Leave The Chagos Islands

This house recognises that:

(1) That the British government forcibly removed the Chagossians from the Chagos Islands between 1968 and 1973 to build military establishments.

(2) That the Chagossians were opposed to leaving the islands but were forced to do so anyway.

(3) The United Nations voted to have the United Kingdom leave the Chagos Islands but the UK has yet to do so.

(4) To this day the Chagossian people continue to fight to be able to return to their homes on the Chagos Islands.

This house urges the government to:

(1) Set up an independent committee to evaluate when and how the Chagossian people will return to the Chagos Islands.

(2) Remove all military presence from the Chagos Islands and begin preparations for the return of the Chagossian people.

(3) Give economic aid to the Chagossian people once they have resettled the islands.

This motion is authored by u/Abrokenhero LP MP on behalf of Solidarity and co-sponsored byThe Right Honourable Dame ARichTeaBiscuit LT LD DCB DBE PC MP MLA MSP MS

This division ends on Sunday 20th September at 10pm.