Africa-Press – Mauritius. The commemoration of the deportation of the Chagossian Community was marked, today, with a wreath laying ceremony and the tossing of flowers in the sea at the Chagos Monument, Quay C, Port Area in Port-Louis.
The exile of the Chagossian Community from their homeland between 1965 and 1973 is a crime against humanity. Government has declared the 3rd November as a date to commemorate the deportation of the Chagossian Community.
The Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Housing and Land Use Planning, Minister of Tourism, Mr Louis Steven Obeegadoo, the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Local Government and Disaster Risk Management, Dr Mohammad Anwar Husnoo, Members of the Parliament, the Chairperson of the Chagossian Welfare Fund Board, Mr.
Louis Olivier Bancoult and members of the Chagossian Community were present on the occasion. In a statement, Prime Minister Jugnauth underlined the importance to commemorate the day every year in remembrance of the pain and grief of the Chagossians.
He paid tribute to their perseverance and fighting spirit in particular the departed ones. He recalled how the brothers and sisters of the Chagos Archipelago were deported by force in inhumane conditions whilst some lost their lives and others threw themselves in the sea.
The fight is ongoing and is being intensified to the way to victory, underlined Mr Jugnauth. Government, he said, will do its best possible to complete the decolonisation process and exercise full sovereignty on the Chagos.
He emphasised on the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), that the Chagos Archipelago is an integral part of Mauritian territory and that the United Kingdom has no territorial rights or claim in respect of the Archipelago.
Government will continue in its undisputed fight for the rights of the Chagossians and ensure that the injustices come to an end, highlighted Mr Jugnauth.
He further indicated that for the first time, since independence, the Government organised a visit to the Chagos Archipelago from 8 to 22 February, 2022.
“This is a historical moment for Mauritius as we have affirmed our sovereignty over the Chagos and raised the flag of Mauritius on Peros Banhos, Salomon Islands and Blenheim Reef”, said the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister also expressed his thanks to the President of Seychelles for helping the Government of Mauritius to make the expedition possible.
He indicated that 25 participants including five representatives of the Chagossian Community went on the expedition adding that it was a very emotive moment for the Chagossians go to their native land visit get the tombs and the church.
The visit, he pointed out, has enabled Government to get access to crucial information which according to him will be highly important to delimit the maritime territory between Mauritius and Maldives.
The Prime Minister lauded the Chagossian Welfare Fund for preserving the Chagossian culture over the years and its folklore, the ‘Sega tambour’ of Chagos Archipelago, which he indicated, is inscribed on the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
Prime Minister Jugnauth enumerated several Governmental measures to enhance the quality of life of the Chagossians. They include: remittance of blood pressure monitor to each Chagossian, scholarships to the students, awareness on health and sports activities and allocation of a plot of land for agricultural activities at Pointe aux Sables.
For his part, Mr Bancoult underlined that the commemoration marks a historical moment for the Chagossian Community and that the site is symbolical of their forced exile, the agony, injustice and hardship endured.
He made a special mention to late Sir Anerood Jugnauth for his relentless fight for the rights of the Chagossians and extended his thanks to the Chagossian women Community and each and everyone for their contribution. Mr Bancoult also condemned the non-respect of UK with regard to the ICJ’s decision in favour of the Chagossian Community.
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