Mauritius’s territory island of Diego Garcia is expected to undergo major development and expansion in the coming weeks. For now, the Mauritian government has not said anything on this news but anonymous sources from the Mauritian Ministry of External Affairs said that the government will raise the matter with American officials at the Copenhagen Summit.
Admiral Douglas McAneny, Commander of the Submarine Force, US Pacific Fleet said that the base is expected to be turned into a supply and repairs base for Tomahawk missiles equipped submarines moving in the Indian Ocean. The Diego Garcia military base will also be upgraded so that it can accommodate up to 4 submarines at the same time.
The upgraded floating port at Diego Garcia will be able to provide food, water, electricity and medical services to submarine members.
For a recap, Diego Garcia was excised from Mauritius just before the 198 independence. The Chagos Archipelagos was then rented to the USA by the British. Since then the US has built a big air force base on the main island of Diego Garcia and the citizens of the Island were drop like abandoned dogs in Mauritius by the British and Americans!
Since years now, the citizens of Diego Garcia are still fighting for their right to return to the Island which was in some way “cheated and seized” from them. On this very topic the US government has always been silent and played the deaf while the British are playing the Yoyo with the citizens.
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Vaiizard
I dont understand 1 thing. Y dont ramgoolam during his numerous visits to the UN or other summits make a formal demand to the USA or UK to restitute the Diego bak to MRU. Y cant he or the other ministers shouts as they use to do during their meetings. I thing that they shoud bring Burty David coz i noticed that he is very good at arguings thus the latter can shout at Obama or Brown to ask then to give bak our property.
The gov of mu itself doesnt want it back. At leat they should negotiate a contract of several millions of $ to rent the island to the USA or at least asked them to employ mauritians in the base. Thus we can at least hope that 1 day perhaps a mauritian will get the chance to fly a raptor or a F15.
Pffft ban politicien mauricien bon pou fer laguele selment entre zot mem.
christiaan naine
@Vaiizard,
Don’t you worry my dear Ramgoolam is enjoying all the monies that Ramgoolam Senior cash in from the deal he made back then.
The Ramgoolam is and should be treated a s TRAITOR to the people of Mauritius.
Peter Harris
Very interesting that this expansion of the base should be announced at the same time as the UK Government is consulting on whether or not to establish a Marine Protected Area around the Chagos islands. Some in the Government and the scientific community seem to be siezing upon environmental protection as a reason to keep the Chagossians in exile; this expansion of the military base on Diego Garcia, and the environmental damage that this entails, goes a long way towards undermining that argument.
In response to Yedhav – not all Chagossians were from Diego Garcia, many were from the Outer Chagos islands of Peros Banhos, the Salomon island etc. A viable settlement could be re-established on these islands without presenting any kind of security risk whatsoever – they lie over 200 miles away from Diego Garcia! If the US military can co-exist nextdoor to indigenous populations in Cuba, Cambridgeshire, Oman and Okinawa, then I think they can tolerate a small island community based several hundred miles away from them in Chagos…
The presence of the US base is not a reason to oppose resettlement; even the original architect of the base, Stuart Barber, admitted so. Neither is the need for environmental protection a reason to keep the Chagossians in exile. The Chagossians should be allowed to return home.
christiaan naine
@Peter Harris,
Bravo!!!!!! at last someone make sense of this all affairs. They have all the right to live on Diego Garcia as well as the outer islands.
Sanjay
Talking of droit de lhomme in big meetings, its of no use. If these countries do really care for people they would not have dropped people like dogs and set up a military base. Moreover, they are expanding the military base!!! zot ena toupe! Ladan bolom Ramgoolam ki en tort – pou fer Mri independant lin prefere vende Diego r ban anglais!!! Aster c ban pauvre Chagossien ki p bizin laguer pou ki retourne zot Diego. Navin p fer wadire li pakon nanrien ladan. Ki foute si li ale koz sa dans sommet a Copenhagen ou autres? Komie koze noun koze pan avance nanrien!!!
Yadhav
Security is something important and it should be given priority in my opininion.
Diego Garcia seems to be such a small island and perhaps it’s only use is a military base. Even if those Diego Garcian living in Mauritius go there, what can they do? They should realize that resources are actually limited there and the best use of the resources available there would be simply for the military base.
At least the island is being used to do something useful by the USA. What would you prefer: 100 Americans killed due to lack of security or 100 Diego Garcean enjoying life in Mauritius but not allowed to return back to Diego Garcia?
.-= Yadhav´s last blog ..Selection of the best and most useful 20 Google Chrome Extensions =-.
christiaan naine
@Yadhav,
You are naive and perhaps a non educated individual. Put some thoughts on the right of people to exist no matter who the are, where they come from.
Grow up will you.
Yadhav
@Christiaan
I’m naive and still uneducated because Mauritians are those who are educated and they believe in their rights! I’m no one to cry for rights because I believe in logic and sense!
Diego Garceans simply feel bad and they want their island back! And that’s what is their right! And their right is more important and they care a damn for logic!
And for these Diego Garceans rights are more important that lives!
When USA is using Diego Garcia as a military base, it’s for the security of millions! It is not using it just for fun or rights!
.-= Yadhav´s last blog ..MES makes serious printing mistakes on CPE result slips! =-.
Rikesh
RT @kurtavish: Mauritius Silent As Diego Garcia USA Military Base Expands –> http://bit.ly/7N6II8
Kurt Ulrich Avish
Mauritius Silent As Diego Garcia USA Military Base Expands –> http://bit.ly/7N6II8
Yadhav Deerpaul
RT @kurtavish Mauritius Silent As Diego Garcia USA Military Base Expands http://ow.ly/1mINGT