Jeremy Corbyn has written to the prime minister condemning her decision to defy a ruling of the United Nations’ principal court which concluded that Britain should hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Jeremy Corbyn has written to the prime minister condemning her decision to defy a ruling of the United Nations’ principal court which concluded that Britain should hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
Jeremy Corbyn has written to the prime minister condemning her decision to defy a ruling of the United Nations’ principal court which concluded that Britain should hand back the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
THE RT HON JEREMY CORBYN MP
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA 0AA
The Rt Hon Theresa May MP 01 May 2019
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A20A
Dear Prime Minister,
| am writing to follow up on the Written Statement made by the Minister of State, Rt Hon Sir Alan
Duncan MP today on the British Indian Ocean Territory.
| wish to express my concern that the government appears ready to disregard international law
and ignore a ruling of the International Court of Justice and the right of Chagossians to return to
their homes.
You will be aware that the International Court of Justice decisively rejects the government's claim
that it had not unlewfully colonised the Chagos Archipelago. It concluded that the Chagos
Archipelago is an integral part of Mauritius, that its purported excision in 1965 was without legal
effect, and that the UK administration must now be terminated as rapidly as possible.
The Advisory Opinion is addressed to the UN General Assembly, which | understand is expected
to adopt a resolution in May 2019 to implement its clear conclusions.
To ignore the Advisory Opinion will set the UK against the entire continent of Africa, and dozens
of other countries from all continents which supported Mauritius at the General Assembly and
before the Court, including India, Brazil and many Commonwealth countries.
The Minister's statement suggests the UK-US defence facility on Diego Garcia helps to keep people
in Britain and around the world safe. Yet Mauritius, recognised as a valued friend and trading
partner, has publicly accepted the future operation of the base in accordance with international
law.
‘The Advisory Opinion recognises the right of Chagossians to return to their homes on Chagos, and
Mauritius has committed to allowing them to return. The position adopted by the UK will prevent
that from happening and will exacerbate an already dire violation of fundamental human rights.Itremains the fact that Chagossians, now a group of elderly people, some of whom I have had the
privilege to meat, were thrown out of their birthplace many decades ago and want to go home.
Labour supports the rule of law both at home and abroad, the IC) and the United Nations, and is
committed to respecting the Advisory Opinion in full, so as to ensure that Chagossians are able to
return to their homes,
| urge the government to cooperate with the government of Mauritius and do the same.
ook forward to receiving your reply.
Yours sincerely,
—— Dt Ona
a A YD [
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Jeremy Corbyn MP
Leader of the Opposition
Copied to:
The Office of the United Nations Secretary General;
& The Office of the Mauritian Ambassador to the UK