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 The last nail in the coffin for Mauritius sovereignty over the Chagos
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Kailash
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Registered Member #2827
Joined: Sun Jan 13 2008, 11:39AM
Posts: 136Status: Offline
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In a world where the environment has become a hot topic, this is the last nail in the
coffin regarding the return of the Chagossiens to the Chagos and the sovereignty of
Mauritius over the islands. No country in the world can be against this decision except
Mauritius. This is a master stroke by the British who have out manoeuvred us for the second
time. The first time was when SSR in his rush for independence and his desire to become
Mauritius first Prime MInister, was incapable of saying 'no' to an independence without
the Chagos. This will remain forever a black mark on his legacy and moral courage. Would
India have said 'yes' to independence if Britain had wanted to retain part of it to create a
new colony? Did the mauritians (only 52% when a two third majority is needed to amend
the Constitution this independence gave us!!) who voted for independence knew they
were voting for an independence without the Chagos? Did the Chagossiens have a chance
to vote in the 1967 election? We should call SSR the 'father of a divided country'. A 'father'
is a person who would put his life on the line to keep his family together and treat every
member equally. Yes? What if SSR had been born in the Chagos?
In a way it is perhaps 'good' that this park will be created with the ever increasing of pollution
in Mauritius caused by unfettered and uncontrolled 'development'. There is no doubt that
the same thing would happen if Mauritius regained sovereignty over the Chagos. We love
money too much to resist the temptation. This would also prevent India and China putting
their grubby hands on Diego Garcia if it was returned to Mauritius. As SSR could not, would
not or was unable to say 'no' to the British, Mauritius would be in the same position vis a vis
India. How can 'little India' say 'no' to 'mother India?' If the Chagos was still part of Mauritius,
would the current mauritian government say 'no' to India if the latter wanted Diego Garcia for a
military base? I think India has now Agalega in its sight instead! Its navy is criss-crossing the
Indian Ocean measuring this and measuring that - the same thing that happened on and in
the vicinity of Diego Garcia well before the British 'stole' (with the benediction of SSR) the Chagos.
There was talk one or two years ago about allowing India to 'develop' Agalega. I have always
doubted the sanity of our politicians. Let us not be blinded by the emotions evoked by our roots.
It is true that the Chagossiens could win in court their right to return but Britain will always
have an ace up its sleeve. They will control the environment in which the Chagossiens will live.
At any time Britain can change the rules and say: 'You are not allowed to do this'. It will be
another form of colonialism. After tasting 'independence' I wonder if the Chagossiens would
accept this.
Mauritius should forget about sovereignty over the Chagos. There is no country or court in the
world that can force the US to leave Diego Garcia. It is the biggest US base costing more that
$10 billion. It is in a strategic position from which the US can 'watch' and act quickly to protect
its interests. With India and China gradually emerging as superpowers, I feel the US will never
leave Diego Garcia. If it did, Britain will quickly replace it. What will send the US packing will be
a mighty tsunami sweeping the whole island clean. It is only one meter above sea level. I am
hoping for such a tsunami! I think there will be nothing left after the tsunami and no country
(including Mauritius!) will want to 'develop' or use it again for military purposes.
During a recent public meeting the PM informed the crowd that Gordon Brown told him that
the plan for a Marine Park had been put on hold. Can a politician trust another politician even
if they think they are 'friends'? Is our PM aware that in international politics there are no
friends but only interests?
Instead of sovereignty let us ask for rent for the Chagos. It is a more reasonable approach in my
humble opinion. We will have an increasing income stream forever as long as the US does not
become a basket case. I feel that SSR will quickly be forgotten as soon as his son leaves politics
due to ill health or old age. There could even be a backlash as has happened in several other countries
especially those in Africa. Have we not forgotten the others who took part in the 'independence
negotiations' with the British in 1967/68?
Today we mourn the lost of a most beautiful part of our territory. At a crucial point in our history
the 'father' let us down. Should we remember him for this and also for the postponement of election
for seven years? Thank God the human mind is programmed to gradually forget. The sooner we
forget him the more peace and less divisiveness there will be in our hearts and our homeland.
Let us not put flesh on his ghost at election times. He put his ambition and his community first.
He was the 'father' of only a part of the population. To this day the other parts are considered as
second class citizens. Will his statue be still standing in Port Louis in say two hundred years? I
doubt it.
UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve
The UK government has designated an area around the Chagos Islands as the world's largest marine reserve.
The reserve would cover a 545,000-sq-km area around the Indian Ocean archipelago, regarded as one of the world's richest marine ecosystems.
This will include a "no-take" marine reserve where commercial fishing will be banned.
But islanders, who live in exile, have expressed concern that a reserve may in effect ban them from returning.
The UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said establishing the reserve would "double the global coverage of the world's oceans under protection".
He commented: "Its creation is a major step forward for protecting the oceans, not just around BIOT [British Indian Ocean Territory] itself, but also throughout the world.
"This measure is a further demonstration of how the UK takes its international environmental responsibilities seriously."
Conservationists say the combination of tropical islands, unspoiled coral reefs and adjacent oceanic abyss makes the area a biodiversity hotspot of global importance.
Rich ecosystem
The archipelago, which has been compared to to the Galapagos Islands and to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, hosts the world's biggest living coral structure - the Great Chagos Bank. This is home to more than 220 coral species - almost half the recorded species of the entire Indian Ocean, and more than 1,000 species of reef fish.
William Marsden, chairman of the Chagos Conservation Trust, commented: "Today's decision by the British government is inspirational. It will protect a treasure trove of tropical, marine wildlife for posterity and create a safe haven for breeding fish stocks for the benefit of people in the region."
However, some Chagossians have said a protected zone could prevent them from fishing - their main livelihood.
The former residents, who were evicted from the British overseas territory between 1967 and 1971 to make way for a US Air Force base on the largest island, Diego Garcia, have fought a long-running battle in the UK courts for the right to return.
Of the islands, only Diego Garcia, which has played a key role in the US-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, is currently inhabited (by military personnel and employees).
The islanders' legal saga is not over; Chagossians are now pursuing their cause through European courts.
In his statement, Mr Miliband pointed out that the decision had been taken following a consultation (in which 90% of those who responded supported greater marine protection). He also said the Foreign Office intended "to continue to work closely with all interested stakeholders".
He added that the protection zone would "not change the UK's commitment to cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes and it is, of course, without prejudice to the outcome of the current, pending proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights".
Conservationists said the 545,000-sq-km (210,000-sq-mile) protection zone - an area twice the size of the UK - would prohibit activities such as industrial fishing and deep-sea mining.
Alistair Gammell, from the Pew Environment Group, said he was "thrilled" with the decision, adding that the oceans "desperately need better protection".
He commented: "In 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity, the UK has secured a conservation legacy which is unrivalled in scale and significance, demonstrating to the world that it is a leader in conserving the world's marine resources for the benefit of future generations."
The Foreign Office said it had been advised that the BIOT was crucial for repopulating coral systems along the East Coast of Africa and hence to the recovery in the marine food supply in sub-Saharan Africa.
The conditions of the marine protected area are expected to be enforced by the territory's patrol vessel.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8599125.stm
....and Darkness said to Light: "Without Me You cannot be. Light replied: "Without Me You are not! I am You and You are Me. Therefore we are One." - Kailash
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