05/06/2019 - International relations

KEY POINTS

·        The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted with a huge majority (116 out of 193 members) to demand that the U.K. “withdraw its colonial administration” within six months over the Chagos archipelago in the Indian Ocean in favour of Mauritius.

·        The archipelago is better known for hosting the U.S. military base at Diego Garcia. The non-binding vote was a rebuke to the U.K.

Historical background

·        For several decades the Chagos archipelago has been the cause of a dispute between Mauritius and the U.K., over the decision in 1965 to separate Diego Garcia from the rest of the archipelago for setting up the military base, in collaboration with the U.S. Mauritius, a British colony, achieved independence in 1968 but the U.K. refused to return the Chagos archipelago, claiming sovereignty over the islands.

·        The U.K. depopulated Diego Garcia by expelling all its inhabitants, to facilitate the building of the military base, paying just £4 million as compensation to Mauritius. In contravention of international human rights laws, from 1967 to 1973, the U.K. forcibly moved around 1,500 Chagossians to Mauritius and Seychelles, and prevented them from returning to their homes.

·        The dispute festered over the decades, with Mauritius, as per its Constitution, rightly claimed sovereignty over Chagos and challenged the U.K.’s stand.

Resolving Deigogarcia

·        The U.K.’s decision to depopulate Diego Garcia was an egregious example of human rights violations. India can utlize the link with the theme of common wealth nations to resolve the issue.

·        India’s relation with the U.S. (Defence technology trade initiative), India as a strategic defence patner can be utilized to solve Deigogarcia issue.

·        India-U.S. defence ties have also progressed significantly with the signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, which provides mutual access to the armed forces of the two countries to selected military facilities.

·        The other significant bilateral agreement is the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, which facilitates encrypted communication between the two militaries.

·        These developments have a bearing on Diego Garcia and India’s more nuanced view on this military base.

·        Eventually, the issue of sovereignty will have to be finessed by agreements that allow continuation of the military base at Diego Garcia with guarantees that Mauritius will retain sovereignty over the Chagos archipelago.

·        It would be best for London to step back and hand over sovereignty to Mauritius and simultaneously work out the leasing arrangement with the U.S. India can play a pivotal role in bringing such an agreement to fruition.

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Chagos Archipelago (C.A.) is a group of atolls located in the indian ocean region to the south of maldives.C.A. has been the part of british indian ocean territorry (BIOT) since Uk excised it from mauritius in 1968 by paying it 4million pounds.after taking over of islands by UK the chargosian population was expelled from the island and have been prevented from returning back.now the islands serve as a military base for the UK and US armies ,most popular being the US army base in DIEGO GARCIA island.recently a resolution at united nation general assembly was passed by majority of its members ordering uk to withdraw its colonial administration from C.A. unconditionally within 6 months.India was amomg 116 nations who voted in favour of the resolution.india being a major player in indian ocean region can play important role in the decolonisation of C.A. in following ways:

1. India having close bilateral ties with mauritius will have a saying/opinion in whatever decision parties take as it is an important communication channel between mauritius,UK and US and has played an important role in the past discussions on the same issue.india through discussios should ensure that direction of UNGA are followed.

2. by projecting its firm stand on peace,security and integrity of indian ocean region (IOR) at UNGA.

3. by increasing its efforts to cooperate with countries to support the decolonisation of people and territories from foreign rule.commitment to decolonisation has been presented by india as its top most priorities at the UN many times.

Though UNGA resolutions are not binding on the parties but acting as per its directions increases the nations image as a more responsible nation at the global stage.as its evident that british will not withdraw from the island any time soon as it cites reasons of safety and protection of british and world population from terrorism,piracy and organised crime. the resolution if followed will definitely add to india’s strategic planning due to the increasing chinese presence in IOR.