| | To the Britishers | | | | Modifier la taille du texte: | A | | | A | | |
|
| | Par:- Raj Meetarbhan
On 11/06/2010 |
Tromelin is indeed a tiny scrap of land but it offers a powerful example of the progress that two countries can achieve through trust and cooperation. This island will be jointly managed by Mauritius and France. An agreement to this effect has been signed this week. It will serve the interest of both nations.
Mauritius and France both claim sovereignty over the island. They however agreed to disagree on the matter and chose not to keep on discussing the intricate legal issues that it involves. Instead, they signed three conventions on fishing, environmental protection and archeological research which would be mutually beneficial to both. This agreement could set an example and help clear the way for a settlement of the dispute between Mauritius and the UK over the Chagos.
This archipelago have been excised in breach of international law from Mauritius before independence. Britain forcibly evicted the islanders to make way for the construction of a US military base in Diego Garcia, the largest island of the archipelago. Britain gave a lease on Diego to the US in 1966 for an initial 50-year period. So either party can opt out of the agreement in 2016.
Hence, Mauritius and the UK have a unique opportunity now to end their long struggle concerning the Chagos islands. But recent developments do not augur well for our country. While in London last week to discuss the subject, our Prime Minister was met by the UK Foreign Secretary in the latter’s office. He was not received at 10, Downing Street. Nothing came out of his meeting with William Hague, though Navin Ramgoolam did ably defend our position. The Mauritian government is calling for the return of its original inhabitants to the Chagos.
While he was in opposition, Tory leader David Cameron recognized that “there is a moral issue here”. Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats believes, too, that his government has a moral responsibility to allow the Chagossians to return home. In the US, the Obama administration seems likely to agree to the islanders returning to the islands other than Diego, like Peros Banhos and Salomon which lie 140 miles away from it. This is exactly what the leader of the Opposition, Paul Bérenger, has been proposing for several years. While stressing that Mauritius should not waive its sovereignty claim over the Chagos, he has been urging the UK to return the outlying islands to us even if the Pentagon wants to keep Diego an air base.
It is in nobody’s interest to remain locked in bitter legal battles over sovereignty. Let us consider friendly talks. France has shown the way forward.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Jude | | | What's done is done.
What's done cannot be undone.
It is time to stop making fuss about the two issues. Tromelin and Chagos will never become the properties of Mauritius. | | | Baltazar | | | Oui, nous devons sauver notre fameux poisson salé des îles qui menace de disparaître. Mais pourquoi partager avec les colonialistes gourmands ? | | | boby | | | Diego Garcia appartenir a bane CHAGOSSIEN,zot bizin dimann lindependance si zot recupere zot ti LILE,sinon,NAVIN RAMGOOLAM pou partage Diego Garcia avec so bane ti copains. CHAGOSSIEN bizin choizir qui pou dirige DIEGO GARCIA demain si zot retoune dan so zile natale.......OLIVIER BANCOULT ou NAVINCHANDRA RAMGOOLAM ? | | | narain | | | Of what legal battles are you talking about, Mr Meetarbhan? Mauritius has never thought of settling these issues in front an international court of law. Why? | | | Biraj | | | Chagos & Tromelin are undeniably Mauritian territories – FULL STOP & no negociation over this issue! When Navin met with the French leaders, instead of claiming the sovereignty of Mauritius over Tromelin, he preferred asking for assistance to combat piracy. Sorry, but Navin appeared less level-negociator but more assistance-seeker. Later, they presented ‘cogestion’ of Tromelin as if that was a jackpot. With this formula, they will definitely come up some days to yell that they have finally won by getting the ‘cogestion’ formula which can be extended to other Mauritian outer island territories. Having freshly won the elections, our leaders are sure to get massive support not only from the biased trumpet blowers but also from ‘intellectuals’ who had been seriously criticizing the labour during electoral campaign. Our opposition leader appears to be taking a rest and not bothered by the Tromelin issue. Funny situation it appears that our leaders and their blind followers are happy not only when we get independence but also when our territory is recolonised! Small country, small brain … they want ‘cogestion’. Big country, big brain … they want increasing their territory. For the average thinker, the ocean is water but for the above average thinker, the ocean is resource which can be exploited by investing money gained from the ocean itself. With the ‘congestion’ that our leaders agreed, I think that the Mauritians will be doing the blue collar jobs and white collar jobs will be for the colonizers …. I therefore disagree and would disagree even if things were the other way round because we have competent people in Mauritius to do both white and blue collar jobs. By the way, our leaders are bound to face severe critics not only locally but also from our immediate neighbours like Madagascar & Comoros islands. Other neighbours from Asia will also not appreciate that our territory is being used as military bases which can be of threat to them. | | | jimmy | | | Right. Paul has fought for those islands but should point out that the Gouv cannot even manage Ile Plate island giving it to private friends company. So, who tell you that Paul won't sell it out to some of his local friends too? I do not want a tamassa on those islands neither. So i think it is good idea to have some security to protect us as we cannot afford it. Mr Meetarbhan []every time Paul] has been power, he has further his interest and that of his friends.You see he rides a BMW as leader of opposition. I would not trust him like that | | | Uluru | | | We should have learned by now that in international politics and in all those negotiations which last for decades, there are no 'moral issues' and we have really no 'friends'. There are only interests. Even India would not hesitate to sacrifice us if we are in the way of her 'interests'. In my humble opinion Mauritius has lost The Chagos for good especially now that there are rumblings about making it part of a huge Marine Park. As long as the US occupies Diego Garcia, the Chagossiens will not be allowed to settle on any island of The Chagos. Super Powers are not moved by 'morals'. Would anyone allow people who claim to be the owner of the land you are renting from someone else to settle on it? This is inviting trouble! There is no court on earth that can force the US to change its mind about the Chagossiens. Therefore, we can whine until Doomsday. Forget sovereignty! Ask for money….lots of money paid regularly. For the US the money will be just a in the ocean. Anyway, The Chagos, several islands of the Seychelles and near Mauritius will be under water one day.The sea is already starting to claim The Maldives. So why cling to something we are going to lose? We will never know whether SSR ever entertained the idea of saying 'No' to an independence without The Chagos. Hence our unending heartache…..especially that of the Chagossiens.
| | | virgil | | | Sorry Mr Meearban.I beg to DISAGREE TOTALLY with your point of view. Mauritius has EFFECTIVELY SOLD TROMELIN to the French for a couple of million of Euros. Ramgoolam père SOLD Diego to the British. His son has not only sold Tromelin, but also Riche-Terre to the Chinese not to forget the ERS and IRS to South Africans and French nationals. Believe me SSR in his tomb must be saying 'Bravo Navin, je suis fier de ton succès, moi j'ai reuissi à vendre SEULEMENT Diego mais toi to même MARI.(Sorry for the word).How is it that Mauritius always clamours that Tromelin is OURS yet decides to co manage it with the French ?
First I believe one parliamentarian SHOULD ask for a copy of the famous agreement
Second in case riches WHICH MAY be lying dans les fonds marins of Tromelin are not included, then bye bye if one day some oil is found or poly metallic nodules of importance.
Seeing how father and son have vied with each other to parcel our country, now I am inclined to say 'Cry my beloved country, CRY'
| | | Bolivar | | | Mr Meetharban kindly note that Madagascar also has a right on Tromelin. It is unfortunate to note that even today old colonial powers are looking for new lands and will never let go their " discoveries". | | | jean chung | | | Since our lease finishes on 2016 and that the American will keep thair base, it is a better idea that we negotiate a lease with the americans directly and cut brokerage fees. Besides, we have to notify U.K. immediately so that they do not invest heavily in any new project... | | | Rudolph J | | | Raj Meetharban has got it wrong this time. An analogy with the Chagos situation is deceitful. The facts and transition arrangements with regard the Chagos Island and Tromlin and other islands are not to be confused or to be used by the Mauritian authorities to reconstruct mauritius history to their advantage, as myth making is part of their culture. Make no mistake, I am mauritian, make no mistake, I despised the British for their colonial conduct BUT am not naieve, I KNOW what Ramgoolam father and son has done to the Chagosians and the mauritian territory. Ramgoolam is symbolic of Communalism and, as his father, he is an ardent regular visitor and supporter of the British. The Agreement to manage Tromlin with the French Authorities is not in any manner attributed to the same set of facts and circumstances as of the Chagos 'File of documents. The issues are very different and the Jusisdictional issues much much clearer. | | | Karrim R | | | The Obama Administration would allow the islanders to return? Or did they only speak those words because they know there can be no resolution of the conflict on sovereignty!, thus talking for the sake of talking!! The reason why the issue on sovereignty is tricky is, as many of us know, because the answer is so damning to a certain class of powerful politicians of the 20th century... But if pushed too far, the UK will have to tell the truth, and can easily claim sovereignty, though the forcible emigration of the Chagossians is challengeable!
All in all, there is nothing in this conflict that can benefit Mauritius; our diplomatic relations with our colonial power have worsened since the case reached the Council- just look at admission to the good universities, Mauritius is now clearly less favoured by the UK and the USA as well.
And finally, does anyone seriously believe that America will let go of Diego when Iran's going nuclear, China is overtaking the US, India is booming, Pakistan is already Nuclear, they are fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the old bear Russia is rising again! Are you dreaming Mr. R. M.? Do you believe Obama would allow the closure of the Air Force Base? It's strategically ppositioned near no less than 7 "nuclear" states (counting Israel, N.Korea and Iran)??? Well if some choose to believe, we can only tell them to dream on.... | | | luc le noir | | | no, no ,no.
SSR sold the chagos indirectly to the british. the british government did look after the chagos people while those who went to Mauritius and other islands were robbed by the mauritian authorities and ended dying with drinks and drugs. now the Mauritian authorities want to come back, playing musical chair with the chagos people for more money by claiming sovereignality. ask the chagos britishers in Crawley , England, if they want to go back to chagos under the Mauritian government rule, to prepare salted fish for Mauritius. go on! | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|