President Donald Trump’s description earlier this month of the UK–Mauritius agreement on the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands as “an act of great stupidity” briefly turned the world’s consideration to the distant archipelago.
Whereas many of the protection and debate centered on the US navy base on Diego Garcia island, little consideration has been given to the sordid story of US and UK involvement in ongoing crimes in opposition to humanity in opposition to the islands’ Indigenous individuals – the Chagossians.
The Chagossians, whose island homeland is in the course of the Indian Ocean, are largely descended from previously enslaved East Africans. Greater than 60 years in the past, US officers determined that the biggest island, Diego Garcia, can be an acceptable location for a distant navy base.
The US noticed the Chagossian inhabitants as an issue, as they wished the island “clear” of inhabitants. Over the subsequent decade, they secretly plotted with the UK – the colonial energy governing Chagos – by a manufactured story primarily based on racism and lies, to pressure the islanders from their house.
One US admiral, Elmo Zumwalt, mentioned the islanders “completely should go”. To scare them into leaving, UK and US personnel gassed their canines. From 1967 to 1973, the UK proceeded to pressure all of the Chagossians – as many as 2,000 individuals – from all of the islands, not solely Diego Garcia. The US constructed and has now operated the Diego Garcia base for greater than 50 years.
In the present day, the Chagossians dwell in exile, largely within the UK, Mauritius and the Seychelles. Many stay in poverty and have been prevented by the UK and US from returning to dwell of their homeland, although generations have continued to marketing campaign to take action. The islands, aside from the US navy base, stay deserted.
The story of US involvement on this compelled displacement has been progressively uncovered, together with by a congressional inquiry, the work of the educational David Vine, and the indefatigable battle of generations of Chagossians to uncover the reality and return house. In 2023, Human Rights Watch discovered that the UK and US had been accountable for crimes in opposition to humanity and had an obligation to offer reparations – a possibility to proper their wrongs.
Because of this, the US State Division for the primary time acknowledged “remorse” for what had occurred to the Chagossians. Subsequently, the UK and Mauritius agreed in precept to a treaty to recognise Mauritian sovereignty over the islands, though the UK will keep formal management of Diego Garcia island and the US navy base will stay.
Forgotten on this settlement are the Chagossians. The treaty talks about historic wrongs, however the crimes are ongoing. The Chagossians are nonetheless prevented from returning house: Their islands – aside from the bottom – stay empty. Some Chagossians hope that the treaty will enable them to dwell on among the islands, although this can depend upon Mauritius fulfilling its obligations. The treaty itself supplies no assure of their return and says nothing in regards to the reparations owed to the Chagossians.
The US nonetheless seems against Chagossians returning to Diego Garcia, although the bottom occupies at most half the island. No Chagossian we’ve spoken to needs the bottom to shut; as a substitute, they want the chance to work there. The US has saved a really low public profile within the negotiations – not less than till President Trump’s feedback – hiding behind the UK.
However the settlement’s phrases make it clear that the US has been influencing the negotiations. The US “remorse” for the remedy of the Chagossians has but to translate into guaranteeing the Chagossians can return to Diego Garcia.
The remedy of the Chagossians is against the law through which the US has been implicated for greater than 50 years, and to which Trump has inadvertently drawn consideration. Having acknowledged remorse, the US and UK governments ought to now be certain that their actions align with their obligations underneath worldwide legislation, together with working with Mauritius to allow the Chagossians to return to their homeland and offering acceptable reparations. Till that occurs, the injustice stays unresolved.
The views expressed on this article are the writer’s personal and don’t essentially mirror Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.
