Two women born on the Chagos Islands are looking to bring legal action against the Government, saying the territory should remain in UK hands and not be given to Mauritius. Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe have begun a bid to take the Foreign Office to court over the proposed deal which has faced criticism and is opposed by the Conservatives.
The agreement, which appears to have been backed by US President Donald Trump, includes a plan to lease back the strategically important US-UK military base on Diego Garcia for 99 years at British taxpayers’ expense. Britain evicted hundreds of people from the remote Indian Ocean archipelago in the 1960s and 1970s to allow for the construction of the base. Many of the islanders were relocated to the UK and faced legal challenges returning to their birthplace.
Ms Dugasse and Ms Pompe, who were both born on Diego Garcia, say the islands should remain under British control and want the right to return to live where they were born.
Access to the Chagos Islands is restricted, with permits required ahead of travel.
Lawyers for the two women have sent a pre-action letter to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), claiming that the Chagossian people have unlawfully not been given a say in the future of the islands, despite being the native inhabitants.
They also say that they do not trust Mauritius to treat the Chagossians fairly, and that they would face “severe obstacles” as British citizens who do not hold Mauritian nationality, including possible racial discrimination and the loss of the possibility of returning.
Ms Pompe said: “Chagossians were removed from their place of birth, without their consultation, and have been treated badly for 60 years.
“Since then we have been struggling to understand why we have been treated so poorly by the British government.
“Our human rights have been stripped away.
“Today the British government is repeating the same mistakes which it made 60 years ago.”
She added: “All our suffering and cries to be heard have been falling on deaf ears… I want to stay British and I also want the right to return to the Chagos Islands.”
Ms Dugasse described the proposed deal as bad for Chagossians.
She continued: “This deal will forbid me from returning to Diego Gracia where I was born, and serves only to extend the suffering of the indigenous Chagossians.
“I am a British citizen and I cannot understand why we are being treated in this horrible way.”
Critics of the deal have claimed it risks allowing China – an ally of Mauritius – to gain a military foothold in the Indian Ocean, while concerns have also been raised for the future of other UK overseas territories.
The FCDO was asked to respond to the legal letter by March 25.
An FCDO spokesperson said: “We do not comment on potential legal challenges.
“The negotiations were between the UK and Mauritius with our priority being to secure the full operation of the base on Diego Garcia.
“However, we have worked to ensure this agreement reflects the importance of the islands to Chagossians.”