Let Us Return USA

In solidarity with the people of the Chagos Islands who were exiled from their homes by the US and UK over 50 years ago. We support their right to return.

[Let Us Return USA @LetUsReturnUSA]

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.

[Human Rights Watch @hrw]

"Take me back to my Chagos. Take me back. I want to live there."

From 1967 to 1973, the United Kingdom and United States forcibly removed all Chagossians from their islands.

Chagossians have not been allowed to return home since. https://t.co/699kO2IGFD

[Let Us Return USA @LetUsReturnUSA]

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 https://t.co/GPVwQPwOOW

[David Vine @davidsvine]

Exiled Chagossians express clear support for news that a UK-Mauritius treaty for the Chagos Islands is being finalized. 5 groups representing Chagossians in Mauritius, UK, Seychelles, + beyond identify these 9 principles for resettlement to ALL their islands + reparations....🧵

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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.

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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.

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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. 🧵

https://t.co/NBN4sIkSFd

[Let Us Return USA @LetUsReturnUSA]

"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"

[UN Special Procedures @UN_SPExperts]

UN experts emphasise that Chagossians should be centre stage in Mauritius-UK negotiations over sovereignty of the archipelago, and urge a finalising treaty to secure their rights, including return to their homeland and reparations.

https://t.co/0Mqtlv32py

[Let Us Return USA @LetUsReturnUSA]

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.

[UN Special Procedures @UN_SPExperts]

UN experts emphasise that Chagossians should be centre stage in Mauritius-UK negotiations over sovereignty of the archipelago, and urge a finalising treaty to secure their rights, including return to their homeland and reparations.

https://t.co/0Mqtlv32py

[Let Us Return USA @LetUsReturnUSA]

"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: https://t.co/ULGDOFyC5S

[David Vine @davidsvine]

"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"

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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 https://t.co/AJEqWBmXsS

[Common Dreams @commondreams]

"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. https://t.co/g6HipIuaRN

[Human Rights Watch @hrw]

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: https://t.co/vdqcjXWI4X

[MarieSabrina Jean @yandangael]

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

[Let Us Return USA @LetUsReturnUSA]

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. https://t.co/SsHXMyqyH4

[Chagossian Voices @ChagossianVoic2]

Statement by Chagossian Voices

[Clive Baldwin @cliveabaldwin]

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?

[Minority Rights Group @MinorityRights]

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.

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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.

[David Vine @davidsvine]

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. 🧵