The United Nations has condemned the British governments refusal to allow the Islanders of the Chagos Islands (Diego Garcia) to return to their homes.

The Islanders were forcibly removed over forty years ago to allow the United Sates to construct a secure military base in the Indian Ocean which it leases from the United Kingdom.

In 2000 the Celtic League joined a range of International bodies which condemned the British governments treatment of the Islanders and called for the UK to compensate them and facilitate their return.

The Celtic League meeting resolved that:

"This AGM:

Condemns and the forced removal, between 1966 and 1969 of the population of the island of Diego Garcia from their home by the British and American governments, as one of the most shameful examples of colonial exploitation.

Supports the campaign of the Islanders to both return to their island home and receive compensation from the British government for their forced removal and exploitation."

In its latest report the United Nations Human Rights Committee says that the United Kingdom is in breach of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (see below):

"22. The Committee regrets that, despite its previous recommendation, the State party has not included the British Indian Ocean Territory in its periodic report because it claims that, owing to an absence of population, the Covenant does not apply to this territory. It takes note of the recent decision of the Court of Appeal in Regina (Bancoult) v. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (No 2) (2007) indicating that the Chagos islanders who were unlawfully removed from the British Indian Ocean Territory should be able to exercise their right to return to the outer islands of their territory. (art.12)

The State party should ensure that the Chagos islanders can exercise their right to return to their territory and should indicate what measures have been taken in this regard. It should consider compensation for the denial of this right over an extended period. It should also include the Territory in its next periodic report."

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

29/07/08

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