This is a scholar that helped enlightened me at Portland State University, and one I hold in extreme regard: Ridwan Laher
Britain's the House of Lords has overturned
a lower court ruling that would have allowed displaced Chagossian people to
return to their homes in the Indian Ocean archipelago.Hengride
Permel, who represents the Chagos Islands Community Association, said the
Britain missed "a chance ... to right a wrong ... it is a shameful day for the
government."The
Chagos Islanders plight to return is hardly covered in the mainstream media. It
is a story of brutal imperialism and war mongering that implicates Britain, and
of course, the United States.In the 1960s and 1970s Britain used force to remove
the Chagossian people from their homes in and around the largest Chagos Island
called Diego Garcia. The move came after Britain leased Diego Garcia to the US.
Britain also allowed the US to build a navy and air base.The vast majority of
displaced Chagossians were settled into slums in Mauritius.In 2007 the British
High Court ruled that the Chagossian people were wrongfully expelled and
that they should have the right to return.Today's House of Lords decision, the
highest court of appeal in Britain, sets the High Court decision aside.The
decision was in large part based on the British government's argument that the
right of return would bridge security because the US uses Diego Garcia to launch
military operations to Iraq and Afghanistan.The House of Lords decision confirms
that Britain (along with the US) have condemned the Chagossian people to
permanent and inhumane exile.See "Stealing a
Nation, A Special Report by John Pilger" (2006) for critical background
coverage. Also, you can get more information from the UK Chagos Support
Association.Onward!Picture Credit
Posted by Ridwan at 7:41 PM 3
comments
Monday,
October 20, 2008
Peace-
Mike
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