Thread by @datguyabdull

Stealing A Nation: How the US and UK took over the Chagos Islands and forced the indigenous Chagossians to leave.

A thread #AThreadWithAbdul

On 15 February 2022 the Mauritian flag was raised on two Indian Ocean atolls, Peros Banos and Salomon, both belonging to the Chagos archipelago. This was the first time that Mauritius’ flag was raised in the Chagos Islands, even though there is clear evidence that these

60 islands form part of its sovereign territory. Currently, the UK maintains control over the archipelago. The whole of Mauritius used to be a British colony, the Chagos islands were detached in 1965, from the Crown Colony prior to granting Mauritius independence. A new colonial

territory was created – effectively recolonising the archipelago – under the name ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’ (BIOT).

The largest and most heavily populated island in the archipelago is Diego Garcia. This island was home to the majority of the nearly 2,000 exiled

Chagossians who are prohibited from returning. Today, this island is home to a US Naval Communication Station with a few thousand US troops and international support staff.

Despite the archipelago’s name – which indicates it is a British colony – the forcible eviction of the

Chagossians was set in motion in the US. As part of the US strategy to expand its military bases around the world, Diego Garcia was identified in 1958, as an ideal location for a future military base by a US naval officer.

The island was considered particularly desirable both

because of its location in the Indian Ocean nd its small population that could easily be removed.

Bases are a critical element of the US hegemon, & the base in Diego Garcia has been vital for manoeuvres across d Indian Ocean, including enabling d invasions of Afghanistan & Iraq.

In 1960, the process of acquiring the islands began with a secret conversation between the US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and the British Minister of Defense Peter Thorneycroft.

The 1960 conversations resulted in the UK detaching the Chagos Islands from Mauritius for

the purpose of recolonisation. This separation was unlawful and went against a UN resolution and the UN charter.

In order to circumvent international law, the British Parliament and the US Congress created the British Indian Ocean Territory using an Order in Council. This uses

Royal Prerogative, a discretionary power to implement actions without parliamentary authority.

In 1965, in what became known as the Lancaster House Agreement, Mauritius was granted independence on the condition that it relinquish the Chagos Islands to Britain.

The following year, the US drafted an agreement for the lease of the islands from the UK. The agreement took the form of an Exchange of Notes, where the Chagos Islands were leased to the US for an initial 50-year term with an option for a 20-year extension. This option was

exercised in 2016, extending occupation to 2036.

Notably, the two countries avoided using a treaty for this purpose, bypassing the need for domestic legislative approval in both countries. Having secured ownership, d relocation of the indigenous people that lived there commencd.

Chagossians, who were forcibly evicted from Diego Garcia, are prohibited from seeking employment on the US Naval Base. Chagossians can’t even visit the island of Diego Garcia.

The forced eviction of the Chagossians occurred in four stages between 1967 and 1973. The first stage

was the prevention of re-entry of Chagossians who left Diego Garcia for medical or tourist purposes in 1967. This was done without any notice.

The second stage was the implementation of import restrictions that created scarcity and made remaining on the island difficult.

The third stage involved threats and coercion. This took two forms. First, in poisoning, shooting, gassing, and burning all pet dogs on the island. Second, in demolishing the homes of Chagossians. These actions were ordered by the British Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean

Territory, Sir Bruce Greatbatch. The orders were carried out with the assistance of the US Naval Construction Battalions.

The depopulation was finalised with the 1971 Immigration Ordinance No.1. It prohibited Chagossians from entering or remaining on the islands.

The exiled Chagossians were mostly left homeless and destitute in the Mauritius, some were sent to Seychelles. They were left to live in dilapidated shacks in slums, without support or employment opportunities.

The International Court of Justice, on 25th February 2019, deemed the detachment of the Chagos Islands from Mauritius unlawful. The UN General Assembly passed Resolution 73/295 on 22nd May, 2019 obligating the UK to withdraw its colonial administration within six months. But

neither the UK or the US has obeyed the resolution to date.

End.

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