Ascension : UK CHAGOS SUPPORT ASSOCIATION
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 12.10.2006 (Article Archived on 26.10.2006)

Olivier Bancoult (leader of Chagos refugee group) came to London for the Barbican screening of John Pilger’s award-winning film “Stealing A Nation” last month.

UPDATE :  OCTOBER 2006

London for the Barbican screening of John Pilger’s award-winning film “Stealing A Nation” last month. Richard Gifford, the CRG solicitor, was also there as were some readers of this who had the opportunity to talk to them both. This Association was represented by our Press Officer, Daniel, and he was kept busy handing out fliers, selling postcards and collecting addresses of people wishing to be kept updated and wanting to assist in the struggle for justice. A Scottish Member was there to help him. (The postcards are pictures of the Islanders return to their homeland and can be bought from this Association.)

UK governments, including the present one, is a complete scandal. I defy anyone who learns the history of this – and the ongoing dishonesty and defiance of the courts by this government – not to feel ashamed to be British.’ She pointed out how Chancellor Gordon Brown made grand speeches about the meaning of Britishness and Home Secretary John Reid pontificates on how people should behave and wondered ‘How can they hold their heads up in the knowledge of their disgraceful abandonment of these British citizens?’

London. He told them that most Chagossians were descended from slaves who had been brought to the Archipelago from Madagascar and Mozambique six generations ago to work the coconut plantations. He recounted their history up to the present day including the reason why Diego Garcia was chosen for the US airbase rather than Aldabra – because the latter was a breeding ground for rare turtles. The only conclusion to draw from this is that black indigenous people were more expendable than turtles. He told how Chagossians were removed from the Islands and dumped on Mauritius and Seychelles where they were not wanted and were given no help. He said how strong the women were in appalling conditions and how they took to the streets to demonstrate outside the British High Commission.  He pointed out how much better citizens of other British Overseas Territories, such as the Falklands, are treated. He, and all Chagossians, would continue the fight for justice.

Esther Stanford, speaking for the PanAfrican delegates said they were very pleased to have had this meeting : ‘We are united in Spirit, community, truth and justice and we are very confident that we will become much closer as we see this as one struggle.’

We are grateful to Deborah Gabriel of Black Britain website for much of the above information.

Dr .Laura Jeffery has written an article for ‘Political and Anthropology Review’ in which she quotes Mr. Justice Ouseley during the compensation case three years ago: “The Chagossians alone were made to pay a personal price for the defence establishment on Diego Garcia….Many were given nothing for years but a callous separation from their homes, belongings and way of life and a terrible journey to privation and hardship. Such arrangements as were made in the early 1970s did not take effect for several years and came too little and too late to alleviate their problems.”  After these remarks, it is hard to see why he proceeded to turn down the case for compensation but he did, saying that there was no legal justification for the case: “…the Claimants seek redress for the treatment meted out to them in the 1970s, in circumstances where the idea that there is no legal redress at all….could seem to be an affront to moral justice. But the case has to be seen in a legal framework…An affront to justice is not a cause of action nor do unfulfilled moral or political obligations become the source of legal obligations.”

Many WOULD see an affront to justice as an excellent reason for a course of action: the compensation case may well have been, in strictly legal terms, time-restricted but the High Court has now said, twice, that the government acted illegally when exiling the Chagossians in the first place …so why are they appealing yet again?

UK government as “we” and, during the course of the case, was appointed to head a new immigration committee by that government.

Liverpool houseowner who fought John Prescott’s plans to demolish her home, along with about 500 others, to build a dual carriageway and flats.

Elizabeth Pascoe successfully argued that the houses were in good condition and the Compulsory Purchase Order would break up a supportive community, A High Court judge ruled that the Order was a breach of her Human Rights because the state had tried to take her home by a process which was not “according to law.” It’s a pity that judge wasn’t in the Chagos Archipelago about four decades ago.

Cumbria “News and Star”, 23 September, tells how the Keswick Peace and Human Rights Group, set up a year ago, are now taking up the Chagossian struggle for justice.

It is good to see a growing awareness of the Islanders’ plight.

KBS, the South Korean equivalent of the BBC, have been in touch with us as they are planning to do a programme about the Chagossian struggle.

Messages of support are often received via the web-site from groups such as Mebyon Kernow (which, I think, translates as Brothers of Cornwall). Sadly, we also receive messages from groups struggling, like David with Goliath, against huge odds – Ascension, Rodriguez…

Crawley which is called the Chagos Island Community Association and the Chairperson is Hengride Perival.

British Indian Ocean Territory People’s Party. Allen reports that he is preparing a dossier for the Prime Minister’s Office, after having attended a meeting where the PM was present. He has also been asked to sit on the steering committee of Age Concern. The group plan to participate in Black History celebration on 21^st October. Like everyone involved in Chagossian affairs, he is pushing for another visit by the Islanders to their homeland. The Mayor of Crawley congratulated Pascale Rambanne (son of their Party Secretary) on gaining a black belt in judo.

Skipton Road (corner of Strawberry Street), Keighley on OCTOBER 29 at 2.00

All are welcome.

BRADFORD PEACE FAIR at the Victoria Hall, Saltaire on 11^th November – we will have a stall there. Come for a good day out and buy goodies for Christmas.

STANLEY GREY LECTURE  Wednesday 29 November a the City Conference Centre,

80 Coleman Street, London.

Dr. Ralph Rayner Csi, CmarSci, FIMarEST will deliver a lecture on “The History, Science and Politics of the Indian Ocean Chagos Archipelago”

This will weave together the history, science and politics of the Chagos Archipelago and will be illustrated by underwater photographs. He says “I’d like those who attend to take away a feeling of wonder at the spectacular beauty of coral reefs; thoughts about how to deal with complex and conflicting demands on even the most remote parts of the planet; and perspectives about how and whether the rights of small minorities should be, or can be, defended against big government.”

The evening starts with tea at 17.00 with the lecture beginning at 17.30 followed, at 18.45, by a reception. The event is free of charge.

sarah.Alexander@imarest.org or by telephoning 0207382 2636.