Let Us Return USA

Please share this video accompanying @HRW report showing US + UK "crimes against humanity" in forcibly displacing #Chagossians during creation of US military base @ Diego Garcia + barring their return home for 1/2 century. @HRW calls for right to return, compensation, apologies.

See thread for statement by Chagossians welcoming news that UK + Mauritian governments w/ the US "are close to finalizing a treaty for the Chagos Islands that will allow us to return to our homeland and provide 'a new trust fund' and 'other support.'" Also letusreturnusa.org/statement2025.…

Before @realDonaldTrump takes office, @Keir_Starmer , @JoeBiden + @Ramgoolam_Dr can push back against the rise of anti-democratic authoritarianism + offer a much-needed example of another politics prioritizing human rights + democracy, international law + the end of colonial rule

Chagossians could live on 1/2 of Diego Garcia miles from the US military base just as civilian populations live near US bases worldwide (even at Guantánamo Bay). Civilian employees who are neither US or UK citizens already live + work on the Diego Garcia base.

The UK-Mauritius-US deal announced in Oct allows Chagossians to return to all their islands except Diego Garcia, home to the US military base whose creation caused their expulsion in the 1960s + 70s.

Today @BylineTimes, I urge @Keir_Starmer @Ramgoolam_Dr @JoeBiden to move before @realDonaldTrump takes office to finalize the treaty for Diego Garcia + fix the glaring problem in the newly announced deal: Let Chagossians return to Diego Garcia. 🧵 bylinetimes.com/2024/11/22/cha…

"All Chagossians have the right to return to live in the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia” say UN Special Rapporteurs, including those on racism + indigenous peoples' rights. They say the Chagos deal will "unjustifiably prevent Chagossians from returning to Diego Garcia"

Read this! "Chagossians should be centre stage in negotiations between Mauritius and the UK," say UN experts including the Special Rapporteurs on racism and indigenous peoples.

"Chagossians Support UK-Mauritius Agreement for the Chagos Islands but Demand Right to Return to Diego Garcia, Involvement in Final Treaty Negotiations, and Full Respect for International Law" Read the full Press Release here: letusreturnusa.org/blog/chagossia…

"All Chagossians have the right to return to live in the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia” say UN Special Rapporteurs, including those on racism + indigenous peoples' rights. They note the Chagos deal will "unjustifiably prevent Chagossians from returning to Diego Garcia"

Here's what's wrong w/ UK-Mauritius agreement giving Chagossians the right to return to their islands except Diego Garcia. The US, UK, + Mauritian govts prioritized the US military's desire for total control on Diego Garcia over Chagossian human rights commondreams.org/news/chagossia…

"We remain powerless and voiceless in determining our own future and the future of our homeland," one diaspora Chagossian said in response to the agreement between the U.K. and Mauritius that lets the U.S. keep operating its Diego Garcia base for 99 years. commondreams.org/news/chagossia…

The UK has announced it will agree to return sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. In making the deal, the Chagossians were not consulted in a meaningful way. What happens now? Read more about the forced displacement of the Chagossians: bit.ly/3FDHqse

Today is historic day in the Chagossian struggle. The Mauritian government has won back sovereignty of the Chagos Islands and has pledged to support the Chagossian people to return to homeland

Chagos Refugees Group leader Olivier Bancoult speaks about the historic agreement allowing Chagossians to return to most of their homeland--but not Diego Garcia--as well as a UK support fund for Chagossians. defimedia.info/olivier-bancou…

Statement by Chagossian Voices

Where in this post and the linked statement does the UK Foreign Secretary mention the Chagossians, the Indigenous people forcibly displaced by the UK government decades ago, which UK officials have acknowledged was shameful and wrong?

Britain's last African colony given back? Justice for the #Chagossians? Not quite. Negotiations to hand back #Chagos islands were made without the #indigenous Chagossians. Chagossians need real reparations, a real apology & real participation in the future of their homeland.

Chagossians could return to live on Diego Garcia w/ no impact on base operations. Those who so desire could commute to work on the base as at many US bases overseas. UK + Mauritius should correct the omission of DG from the right of return + protect Chagossians' full human rights

Excluding Chagossians' right to return to Diego Garcia violates the 2019 International Court of Justice ruling requiring protection of Chagossians' full human rights. Excluding DG is unnecessary: the base occupies ~1/3 of DG + Chagossians could easily live on east side of DG.

MAJOR NEWS: Chagossians have won a historic--if incomplete--victory. A UK-Mauritius agreement finally secures many Chagossians' right to return to their homeland + a UK support fund. Unfortunately, the agreement unnecessarily excludes the right of return to Diego Garcia. 🧵