The UK is on the verge of decolonising #Mauritius completely.
It has signalled that it would return the #Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a few months.
But Chagos houses a massive American military base. So how real will the decolonisation actually be?
Thread ⬇️
It has signalled that it would return the #Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a few months.
But Chagos houses a massive American military base. So how real will the decolonisation actually be?
Thread ⬇️
4 scenarios:
1. UK hands the Chagos back cleanly and lets Mauritius decide how to proceed wrt the American base.
A clean relinquishing of its claim to Chagos aligns with international law.
The UK and international law lol. So perhaps this scenario is unlikely.
1. UK hands the Chagos back cleanly and lets Mauritius decide how to proceed wrt the American base.
A clean relinquishing of its claim to Chagos aligns with international law.
The UK and international law lol. So perhaps this scenario is unlikely.
2. UK hands back Chagos Islands without Diego Garcia, the island that actually houses the base.
Chagos is an archipelago of 58 islands. They could hand back 57 of them
Spot the trend: we'll grant you independence if you give us Chagos. We'll give you Chagos if you give us Diego
Chagos is an archipelago of 58 islands. They could hand back 57 of them
Spot the trend: we'll grant you independence if you give us Chagos. We'll give you Chagos if you give us Diego
3. UK hands back Chagos, including Diego but negotiates access to Diego (presumably on behalf of the US so that the base can stay).
This appears to be the Mauritan government's favoured option. Give Chagos back and we'll rent Diego to the Americans.
This appears to be the Mauritan government's favoured option. Give Chagos back and we'll rent Diego to the Americans.
4. Talks break down, the UK keeps hold of Chagos, in contradiction to international law, while continuing to preach about human rights etc on the global stage 🤡
Most important: aim of getting Chagos back should be in service of the Chagosian people who were evicted, or whose parents and grandparents were evicted.
100x more important than the symbolic diplomatic win, or future economic benefits (rent, fishing in surrounding seas) ✊🏾
100x more important than the symbolic diplomatic win, or future economic benefits (rent, fishing in surrounding seas) ✊🏾
Associate Professor:
"London has no constructive role to play in these discussions, which concern the territory’s future rather than its past …
"London has no constructive role to play in these discussions, which concern the territory’s future rather than its past …
Btw this is the flag of the people of #Chagos.
🟠 orange: sunset glowing when they were evicted from their island home by the British 50 years ago
⚫ black: dark years of their exile
🔵 blue: the ocean
It is what sadness, hope and determination look like. They will win.
🟠 orange: sunset glowing when they were evicted from their island home by the British 50 years ago
⚫ black: dark years of their exile
🔵 blue: the ocean
It is what sadness, hope and determination look like. They will win.
"Complying with international law is a voluntary act."
A quote from this @TC_Africa piece this thread is based on that summarises the injustice the system is built on perfectly.
📷 in 1st tweet: D.Avery/flickr
theconversation.com/why-britain-sh…
A quote from this @TC_Africa piece this thread is based on that summarises the injustice the system is built on perfectly.
📷 in 1st tweet: D.Avery/flickr
theconversation.com/why-britain-sh…
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