MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Chagossian people claiming billions of dollars from the US government
The Chagossians despite having lived on the disputed islands for up to 8 generations have been stripped of property rights and citizenship The Chagossian people are seeking billions of dollars in damages from the United States under the Foreign Claims Act. The United Nations General Assembly, African Union, and International Court of Justice have all found that the forcible deportation of the Chagos Islanders a generation ago to make way for the US military base at Diego Garcia was unlawful and the continued military occupation is a serious violation of international law, according to a release from Chagossians’ lawyer, Dr, Jonathan Levy.
The islanders, known as Chagossians who are of African heritage are prevented from returning by “Apartheid laws” which allow them only brief visits under military guard while US and UK military, contractors, yachtsmen and scientists are permitted to remain in and visit the disputed archipelago.
The Chagossians despite having lived on the disputed islands for up to 8 generations have been stripped of property rights and citizenship. The Chagossians are seeking damages in the neighborhood of US$ 5 billion from the United States, approximately US$ 100,000 per Chagossian.
A well regarded “academic study” concluded that as of 2008, the Chagossians’ total damages already ranged between US$ 5.4 to US$ 13.8 billion.
The Chagossians now cite changed circumstances including the swearing in of “self described anti-Apartheid fighter Joseph Biden”. On December 8, 2020 the Trump administration denied their claims as: “Not in the interests of the US government.” The Chagossians seek a reconsideration by the Biden administration.
According to the Chagossians’ lawyer, Dr, Jonathan Levy: “The United Kingdom and United States are practicing Apartheid in the Chagos Islands in the name of national security by banning the Chagossians from returning home. We fully expect President Biden to take a closer look at this situation as he has come out 100% against racism and was the leading US opponent of South African Apartheid.”
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Read all commentsLiberato
Feb 10th, 2021 - 11:10 am +1“They have, at some point, have to return to their homes again.” No they don't they have accepted compensation payments.
The European Court of Human Rights members past and present.
https://www.echr.coe.int/Documents/List_judges_since_1959_BIL.pdf
That was their final appeal, they are now barred from legally proceeding any further.
My understanding is, theres a lot of sympathy and support for them in the UK.
“The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed a case brought by Chagos Islanders claiming the right to return to their home in the Indian Ocean, bringing a long legal battle to a close.
Feb 09th, 2021 - 12:39 pm 0http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/9758451/Chagos-Islanders-defeated-in-European-Court.html
Both the Chagossians and the Mauritanians accepted the deals they were offered. Thus ECHR is quite correct, and the UK can now quite simply say any further legal scrutiny is barred as Res Judicata ”also known as claim preclusion, is the Latin term for “a matter decided” and refers to either of two concepts in both civil law and common law legal systems: a case in which there has been a final judgment and is no longer subject to appeal; and the legal doctrine meant to bar (or preclude) relitigation of a claim between the same parties.” https ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Res_judicata
A lovely example of “New, hopefully soft, man in the driver's seat”, let's try to get some dough out of him!
Feb 09th, 2021 - 03:32 pm 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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