An Archive of Meetings of the APPG, Statements, Parliamentary Questions, Debates and other material is available in the APPG and Parliamentary Archive (click the link where you will be able to see the Archive contents). 

In December 2020 the APPG agreed that all correspondence with and from Ministers and officials could be made publicly available annually in January each year for the preceding year. The exception being any Ministerial letters marked "In Confidence" at the head.

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Members discussed the Purpose of the Group, following recent developments concerning the BIOT and Diego Garcia Military Base Bill. As the Bill is currently paused, discussion has increasingly focused on the issue of resettlement. The following revised wording for the APPG’s purpose was agreed:

“To help bring about a resolution of the issues concerning the future of the Chagos Islands (BIOT) and the Chagossians, including a just and lasting framework for the resettlement of Chagossians wishing to do so.”

Members also discussed the respective roles of the UK and Mauritian governments in relation to future resettlement arrangements.

The Group considered a summary of BIOT-related litigation since the previous meeting, prepared by Richard Dunne, former Royal Navy Legal Adviser. Richard Gifford explained to the meeting the background to and prospects for the litigation which will be heard on appeal from the BIOT Commissioner on 15-17 July.

The Group discussed arrangements for a future meeting with the Mauritian High Commissioner and suggested this be in October at its next meeting.

Members noted that Parliamentarians had heard from representatives of UK based Chagossian groups and were looking forward to hearing from Olivier Bancoult and the Chagos Refugees Group (CRG). The APPG expressed willingness to continue to invite other Chagossian groups to present their views to future meetings. 

Meeting with Olivier Bancoult and delegation

After half an hour the meeting was joined by Olivier Bancoult, President of the Chagos Refugees Group (CRG), accompanied by 14 members of his delegation. He provided an update on the current situation and outlined the position of the CRG regarding the  Chagos Bill, and treaty. Mr Bancoult stated that the CRG supports the UK–Mauritius agreement and argued that it was misleading to suggest that all Chagossians opposed the treaty. He noted that many Chagossians continue to express a desire to return to the islands and reconnect with their place of birth.  He and most of his delegation had been born in Chagos. Several attendees presented birth certificates demonstrating their birth in Chagos. 

Mr Bancoult expressed disappointment that the perspectives of those who had lived on the Islands and support the agreement were not represented in Westminster parliamentary discussions. He stated that the CRG had been involved in discussions with both Mauritian and UK representatives and clarified that the CRG was not seeking closure of the military base. He said that the CRG could not support Lord Weir’s Bill perpetuating BIOT and ‘British Sovereignty Protection of the Chagos Islands’, scheduled for consideration on 5 June. He further noted that the CRG sought to support Chagossian communities in Seychelles and Europe, primarily France and referred to the existence of differing views among Chagossian groups regarding the Agreement. He stated that the CRG formed its views independently based on the experience and rights of its members.

The Chairman thanked Mr Bancoult for his contribution. In discussion and questions the following issues were raised:

• position of the Trust Fund while treaty arrangements remain on hold;

• access to the islands for Chagossians born on the territory;

• relationship between environmental protections and access rights.

In response, it was stated that some related processes and meetings remain on hold pending developments but that redesigning the MPA under Mauritian jurisdiction with Chagossian participation continued. Several members of the delegation described what it had been like to be suddenly deported from their homeland and to live in exile and poverty. Heritage visits had been controlled and unduly restricted which made participants sad to visit Chagos and yet not to be connected with their way of life and heritage on the Islands. Non-Chagossians who had obtained permits to visit had free range. There was also a sense of unfairness and injustice regarding the fact that some 3rd generation Chagossians are settling on the islands illegally but those who were born and lived there were not allowed to do so.

Questions were raised regarding the illegal settlement on Ile de Coin and reports of proposed resettlement connected to external commercial interests. Concerns were expressed about consistency in access arrangements and decision-making processes by the British authorities. There was concern regarding tensions between different Chagossian advocacy groups and respectful engagement among all parties.

The next meeting of the APPG will be on Tues 13 October at 3.30pm.

David Snoxell

Coordinator

Time for an overall settlement of the future of the Chagos Islands and of the Chagos Islanders

The Chagos Islands (BIOT) APPG held its 11th AGM and 75th meeting on 17 July 2019. Members reviewed developments since their last meeting on 22 May which had coincided with the debate in the UN General Assembly on the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion of 25 February. They took note of the statements made by the Prime Minister of Mauritius and the UK Permanent Representative to the UN. They welcomed UN Resolution 73/295 on the ICJ Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, which the General Assembly adopted by 116 in favour, 6 against and 56 abstentions.

Recalling its statement of 21 December 2018 urging the Government to seek a resolution of the issues concerning the future of BIOT and of the Chagos Islanders the Group reaffirmed its wish to help bring about agreement between all parties on a way forward, in the light of the UNGA resolution setting a deadline of 22 November. The Group noted that the General Assembly was guided by the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, including the inalienable right of self-determination of peoples, and the obligations arising from other instruments and rules of international law.

The Group urges the next British Government to respect the will of the United Nations, the Opinion of the ICJ and the requirements of international law which from the signature of the United Nations Charter in 1945 remain the keystone of the UK’s foreign policy and commitment to international order based on the rule of law.

The APPG believes that these matters must now be addressed urgently in diplomatic discussions between the UK and Mauritius so that an outline agreement on the implementation of Resolution 73/295 can be put before the General Assembly at it 74th session beginning on 17 September. To that end the Group recommends that the next government appoints an independent special envoy to negotiate an agreement. Members look forward to discussing these issues with the next Foreign Secretary and Minister of State.