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The
Association's September 2004 newsletter
This
has not been a good summer and we don’t just mean the weather. The
Orders in Council of June 10 were seriously bad news – undemocratic is
probably the mildest word that comes to mind.
It is shocking that the government can treat the High Court with contempt
– completely reversing the November 2000 ruling with which they agreed at that
time. They are putting themselves above the law.
Subsequently,
Bill Rammell (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) gave two main “reasons” to
the House of Commons (which had not been consulted) – both entirely spurious.
The climate change excuse is hardly convincing whilst the US is actually extending
its base facilities. His other excuse, that the cost of resettlement would be
prohibitive and on-going has never been investigated. In any case, how expensive
would it be to re-build the destroyed village on Diego Garcia and let the
re-settled islanders do the non-military jobs on the base? Currently, the US
flies in other nationalities to do this work. The security argument, mentioned
by Bill Rammell, is weak given that the US has a base on Cuba, a communist
country.
The
Early Day Motion 1355, deploring the UK’s treatment of the Chagossians is
still “on the table” for MPs to sign.
Jeremy
Corbyn MP secured a debate in Westminster Hall on July 7 where he and Tam
Dalyell made an excellent case on behalf of the Chagossians. Alex Salmond, John
Grogan, Tom Brake and Gary Streeter were all very supportive and Kelvin Hopkins
drew the inevitable comparison between “Island Clearances” and the Highland
Clearances in Scotland at the beginning of the 19th century (as has
been said so often before: all very different from the way the UK treated the
Falkland Islanders).
After
the Orders in Council, Mauritius threatened to leave the Commonwealth in order
to take action against the UK regarding the
Chagos Archipelago (BIOT). However, our government changed the rules to prevent ex-members of the Commonwealth, as well as current
members, from going down this road.
The
appeal hearing for compensation in the High Court was also a great
disappointment. Why should there be a statute of limitations when a government
has behaved in an inhumane and unethical way?
Mr
Rammell recently flew to North Korea where he discussed human rights abuses –
we suggest he sets them a good example by restoring and properly compensating
the rightful inhabitants of the Chagos islands.
We
were saddened to learn of the death of Paul Foot who was a good friend to our
cause as well as countless others. He fought long and hard against injustice
wherever he saw it and will be much missed.
We
are very pleased to have some GOOD news. John Pilger is making a documentary for
ITV to be screened on October 6. Please encourage everyone you know to watch
this – perhaps simple posters could be put up at work or in churches? Mark
Curtis is writing an information booklet which will be available, free, after
the programme.
Graham
Macklin has written an article for the BBC History Magazine which will probably
be published in November.
We
are in contact with a wide range of people, both old and young, British and not,
who express an interest in the cause – the fight goes on!
On
a more parochial level, we are pleased to say the quiz sheet has been selling
well and we continue to make useful donations to the different Chagossian
groups. Could all quiz entries and money
raised be in by the end of October please?
On
27 November we will be manning a stall at the Victoria Hall, Saltaire, Shipley,
Yorks from 10am until 4pm to raise funds and provide information for anyone
interested.
Finally,
we were relieved to hear our excellent web-master
survived Hurricane Frances intact – not a comfortable experience for
him!
Please,
please continue to nag your Members of Parliament to support us with this work.
With
thanks and best wishes from all the committee,
Celia
Whittaker
Secretary
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