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Britain leaving Chagossians' wish for resettlement up to Mauritian government, MPs told
The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam, addresses the United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, Monday, September 19, 2005

THE government has washed itself of British Chagossians’ right to return in its latest deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, MPs heard today.

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty faced an urgent question in the Commons over the plan after it was criticised by the new Mauritian president on Tuesday.

Forming part of the British Indian Ocean Territory, annexed from the colony of Mauritius in 1965 before independence was granted, islanders were forcibly removed to make way for US and British military interests.

Mr Doughty said Mr Ramgoolam had reiterated “his willingness to conclude a deal with the UK,” adding that it “protects the base at proportionate cost” and has been supported “across the national security architecture in the United States and by India.”

He ignored Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s call for the deal to be put to a referendum of exiled Chagossians.

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