Ascension : UK CHAGOS SUPPORT ASSOCIATION.
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 28.06.2007 (Article Archived on 12.07.2007)
May’s Update went out hard on the heels of the excellent court ruling: congratulations once again to Richard Gifford, Sir Sydney Kentridge and all the legal team. Olivier Bancoult returned to a hero’s welcome in Port Louis.
UPDATE JUNE 2007
May’s Update went out hard on the heels of the excellent court ruling: congratulations once again to Richard Gifford, Sir Sydney Kentridge and all the legal team. Olivier Bancoult returned to a hero’s welcome in Port Louis.
“On Sunday 3rd June, about 1,500 Chagossians with flags, banners and musical instruments were present at Sir Seewoosagar Ramgoolam International Airport to welcome Mr. Olivier Bancoult who came back from England following the Court of Appeal’s ruling in favour of the Chagossian community on 23 May 2007. Everyone rejoiced at this great victory and this was really an intense moment of gladness.
The procession of buses and cars then proceeded back to Cassis for a time of celebration and prayers were led by Rev Mario Li Hing, our Chaplain, and Father Gérard Mongelard. Mity Yah sung a new song written specially for this victory and everyone danced to the sound of this music.
The same spirit of rejoicing was present during the general assembly held on 17 June 2007. Thousands of people came to learn more about our next steps. We also seized this opportunity to check the lists of all those who have died from 1965 to 03 May 2000 and from 03 May 2000 up to now.
Sad news…. We regret to announce that Mrs. Jenny Bidot, one of our former members, passed away at the age of 82 years.” {Report from Chagos Refugee Group}.
This Association was showered with phone calls, e-mails and letters expressing delight at the result. One, from a retired RAF officer (posted to Diego Garcia towards the end of the war) wrote “I do hope Margaret Becket will not attempt any further spanner in the works and that my 1945 friends will soon be on their way to their island paradise. Wish I could be with them!”
Another supporter said “How satisfying it is to see something like justice for the Islanders at long last and the hope that, this time round, the FCO will behave in a just and humane fashion and NOT seek another appeal.”
Lord Avebury said “The highlight of my week was attending the Court of Appeal to hear the judgment handed down in the case of the Chagossians. The Court declared that the two Orders in Council which evicted the Islanders forty years ago were unlawful (and constituted an abuse of power on the part of the executive government) and refused the government leave to appeal to the House of Lords.”
However, strangely, the government can still petition the House of Lords direct for leave to appeal. Lord Avebury has tabled two questions to the Lords, one asking if the government intended to do this and the other asking “Her Majesty’s government whether they will take measures to facilitate the return of the Chagos islanders and to create a trust fund to help revive the economy of the Chagos Islands.” No reply as yet.
Jeremy Corbyn MP’s questions in the Commons elicited the reply from Geoffrey Hoon MP that the government are still considering an appeal so it would be inappropriate to comment. (If you have not already done so, please ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 1559, tabled by Mr. Corbyn.)
Questions have also been asked in the European Parliament.
Recently, there have been commemorations of the victory in the Falklands campaign twentyfive years ago. On visiting the Falklands, William Hague said “…it was the extraordinary heroism of the people of the Armed Forces that defended the right to self-determination of the people who lived here and defended international laws.” It would not take any heroism or loss of life to defend the right to self-determination of the Chagossians. It just needs the UK government to obey international laws and do what the UK court has said (three times) SHOULD be done.
Alan Huckle, currently governor of the Falkland Islands, speaking on the draft Falklands constitution, said “What some do not acknowledge is that many island families have been here for generations – and that it is the right of the Falkland Island community to decide how the Islands should develop and who should live there.” He is absolutely correct and the same rights should be extended to the Chagossian and Ascension Islanders. In a previous incarnation, Mr. Huckle was Head of Overseas Territories Department in the Foreign Office: an excellent position from which to help the Chagossians but, sadly, he did not do so.
We, as an Association, are delighted that the Falkland Islanders are happily settled in their homeland (with the support of the UK government) and only wish the same for the Chagossians.
Other Overseas Territories must be alarmed at this government claiming the right to legislate for them without recourse to Parliament and in defiance of the Courts. The Chief Minister of Gibraltar said “The people of Gibraltar will never succumb to the undemocratic proposition that anyone other than we ourselves should decide on our own sovereignty and our own political future, freely and in accordance with our human and political rights to self-determination.” Hear hear! As the Court of Appeal said last month, the right to go home “was one of the most fundamental liberties known to human beings.”
There has been some very disturbing news in the media lately about Diego Garcia: “The Council of Europe Human Rights Organisation has found that Britain gave logistical support to CIA extraordinary rendition flights and that Diego Garcia was used to process those prisoners.” (William Rees-Mogg in the Times, but also covered by other papers and BBC). Britain has signed the Convention on Torture and should not be involved with this.
John Pilger’s excellent book “Freedom Next Time” is now available in paperback. (Black Swan £8.99). This includes, in the section on the exiled Chagossians, the ironically entertaining interview with Bill Rammell, Minister in charge at that time. Mr. Rammell said the feasibility study (commissioned by FCO) had found the islands to be unsafe for resettlement - they were sinking so the Islanders could not go back. Mr.Pilger pointed out that there are 4,000 US personnel there, in living conditions described by the US Navy as “outstanding” and “unbelievable”!
The US base flies in many “guest” workers from places such as Mauritius and the Philippines. Shouldn’t loyal British passport holders be allowed to live in their old villages and work on the base in a non-military capacity?
Many supporters were interested in the account (May Update) of Michael Mungavin’s time on Diego Garcia. Here is some more from him in reply to a question about security in the area:
“My brief included being the officer in command of the Royal Marines Detachment. As such, I was responsible for the security on DG and the outer islands, and the airport customs on DG. The security threat to the islands was perceived to be very low. We would send a small detachment of 6 - 8 men out monthly on what was called 'Brit Ops' in order to check the islands. We would take a couple of small landing craft on one of the merchant vessels and operate from them. Generally we would land on Peros
Banhos and the Salomons - the 2 main islands, check the passports, register the yachties and take a general wander round to ensure there had been no interference or landings. Often we'd have a barbeque with the yachties after that. It was an informal, 'show-of-face' operation, we carried only 2 x SA80 small arms and maybe I would take my pistol, between 6 - 8 of us. We
would try to maintain radio contact with the merchant vessel through their walkie talkies but that was it. We had no sat comms. This was a mere walk in the park compared to Northern Ireland where I had been prior to my
arrival on DG.
Probably of greater importance was illegal fishing - Japanese and Mauritian registered vessels could come into our waters - and we tried to monitor this. This could earn us big points with the FCO. During my time we successfully arrested a Japanese boat - the vessel/catch was confiscated and I think was eventually fined equivalent to > $1.5 m US.
The Brits had experienced guys there who had done at least a couple of operational tours - average age was around mid-twenties, but the posting was most definitely seen as a respite. The Americans had a detachment of marines to guard the compounds. They, nor any other US personnel, visited the outer islands unless they came on a 'jolly' with us - but that was
unofficial. The US Marines were ineffectual, very young and inexperienced. Almost all of them were posted straight from training and were specialized as installation guards - unlike our lads who were all infantry/commando trained. The US Marines drove around the islands on what could best be described as bread vans adapted for personnel.
So - the threat was low and security was not given a high priority – this was reflected in the resources put over to it. I believe the outer islands could be occupied and inhabited by the Chagossians with little or no threat to the military base. The military and the FCO are using security as a blanket excuse to avoid any degree of interference. I believe they like the idea of having DG free in case any needs arise – e.g. a British nuclear sub limped in during my time, having difficulty whilst monitoring activity in the Indian Ocean. Perhaps also any occupation will be viewed as the 'thin end of the wedge' and subsequent claims over sovereingty etc are inevitable.
Michael Mungavin”
As usual, we welcome all feed-back, ideas and suggestions. Next month we are planning to include the view of a Mauritian-born supporter.
Best wishes,
Celia Whittaker
(Sec: UK Chagos Support Association.)
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