Mauritius: Mauritius On The Bridge Of Independence

Mauritius was on the bridge of Independence and all awhile, fighting for independence, various political debates took place, it was in 1960 that, ‘the United Nations General Assembly adopts Declaration 1514 (XV) on the Granting of Independence of Colonial Countries and Peoples. UN Declaration Paragraph 5 clearly states that the transfer of powers to the peoples of those territories which have not yet attained independence should be effected ‘without any conditions or reservations....’ and later in 1961’A Special Committee on Decolonisation is created by United Nations’ General Assembly (resolution No 1654), to monitor and report on the progress of all ‘trust and non self-governing territories’ and their movement towards independence.’

In 1964, ‘Defence arrangements in the Far East were out of proportion to the British stake in investment and trade in the area […]. By persuading the United States to associate themselves more with Britain by using existing strategic facilities or developing new ones in places where there was no anti- colonial bias, or better still no inhabitants, our burden might be reduced .’

One of the Mauritian leaders had suggested that a long term lease and the right to benefits from any mineral found on the Chagos islands should be rendered to the US. In October of the same year, after paying attention to the arrangements and media speculations announced in the media, Non- Aligned Conference in Cairo condemns Indian Ocean island bases . The negotiations between the UK and Mauritius, with regards to the destitute fate of the Chagos, was at the heart of international political observation for the avoidance of another ‘colonial era’ which would be disguised through the abuse of money and territorial h...

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...nd persistently pressed the UK government both in bilateral and multilateral forums for the early and unconditional return of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius’ ‘However, the British government has recognized Mauritius as the only State which has a right to assert a claim of sovereignty when the UK relinquishes its own sovereignty. Successive British Governments have given undertakings to the Government of Mauritius that the territory will be ceded when it is no longer required for defense purposes, subject to the requirements of international law’ In 2010, as a ruse to of an excuse the creation of a one of the world’s largest Marine Protected around the Chagos Archipelagos. As stated by the senior FCO official Colin Roberts ‘most effective long-term way to prevent any of the Chagos Islands’ former inhabitants or their descendants from resettling in the BIOT.