The UK Chagos Support Association

Chagossians to 'reclaim' Diego Garcia

Thursday 8 January 2004

A group of Chagossians and their supporters plan to sail to Diego Garcia and “reclaim their land”.

Mauritian socio-political group Lalit ("Struggle") has brought together a diverse group of supporters to board a ship and confront the US military, whose base currently occupies Diego Garcia.

Most of those aboard the ship will be

Lalit says that the story of the Chagossians intersects with many important issues including human rights, women’s struggle, global trade, the environment, and the militaristic behaviour of the US and the UK.

The UK Chagos Support Association's view on this action is that not all Chagossians wish to be confrontational and, as a group, we respect the views of both sides.

We have decided to continue lobbying the government and raising funds to help where necessary but we will not be on the boat!

A British court ruled in 2000 that the eviction of the Chagossians in the late 60s and early 70s was unlawful. But the Chagossians have still not been allowed home.

The US military have no intention of allowing the Chagossians anywhere near their base.

Since the Chagossians’ court victory in 2000, the British government has been conducting feasibility studies into the possibility of resettlement, but critics say they are just stalling.

Britain and the US have done their best to keep this issue out of sight for over 30 years. A bid by the Chagossians to simply walk back on to the land which a judge has ruled was wrongly taken from them, will force Britain and the US to look them in the eye.

his is a problem they can’t ignore.

The date and detail

For more information visit Lalit’s website.