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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| President's threat over Chagos | President's threat over Chagos |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Mauritius president has threatened to leave the Commonwealth in protest at the UK's "barbarous" treatment of the people of the Chagos Islands. | The Mauritius president has threatened to leave the Commonwealth in protest at the UK's "barbarous" treatment of the people of the Chagos Islands. |
| Sir Anerood Jugnauth says he may take the UK to the International Court of Justice over the islanders' plight. | Sir Anerood Jugnauth says he may take the UK to the International Court of Justice over the islanders' plight. |
| The Chagos Islands, a British colony in the Indian Ocean, were leased to the US in the 1960s to build a military base. | The Chagos Islands, a British colony in the Indian Ocean, were leased to the US in the 1960s to build a military base. |
| The residents were forced out and many now live in poverty in Mauritius, or as refugees in the UK. | The residents were forced out and many now live in poverty in Mauritius, or as refugees in the UK. |
| Many have fought for the right to return to the islands, or for more help to improve their living standards in the UK. | Many have fought for the right to return to the islands, or for more help to improve their living standards in the UK. |
| The American base was built on the large island of Diego Garcia within the Chagos archipelago. | The American base was built on the large island of Diego Garcia within the Chagos archipelago. |
| Mauritius claims the islands as part of its territory, and Mr Jugnauth suggested his country was forced by the British to accept the Chagossians as a condition of independence. | |
| Royal prerogative | Royal prerogative |
| The Diego Garcia base was crucial during the Cold War and has gained new significance in recent years as a key launching point for bombing missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| In 2000, the courts ruled that Chagossians could return to their homes in 65 of the islands, but not to Diego Garcia. Then Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said the government would not appeal. | In 2000, the courts ruled that Chagossians could return to their homes in 65 of the islands, but not to Diego Garcia. Then Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said the government would not appeal. |
| But in 2004 the government used the royal prerogative, powers that allow action without reference to Parliament, to effectively nullify the decision. | But in 2004 the government used the royal prerogative, powers that allow action without reference to Parliament, to effectively nullify the decision. |
| Sir Anerood Jugnauth is appalled by the UK's stance | Sir Anerood Jugnauth is appalled by the UK's stance |
| But last year the High Court overturned the order and rejected government argument that the royal prerogative, exercised by ministers in the Queen's name, was immune from scrutiny. | But last year the High Court overturned the order and rejected government argument that the royal prerogative, exercised by ministers in the Queen's name, was immune from scrutiny. |
| The government's behaviour towards the Chagossians was described as "repugnant". | The government's behaviour towards the Chagossians was described as "repugnant". |
| Sir Sydney Kentridge QC said then that there was no known precedent "for the lawful use of prerogative powers to remove or exclude an entire population of British subjects from their homes and place of birth". | Sir Sydney Kentridge QC said then that there was no known precedent "for the lawful use of prerogative powers to remove or exclude an entire population of British subjects from their homes and place of birth". |
| Now the government has taken the case to the Court of Appeal, saying it prevents legislation relating to security and seriously affects the legal relationship with overseas territories. | Now the government has taken the case to the Court of Appeal, saying it prevents legislation relating to security and seriously affects the legal relationship with overseas territories. |