The High Court judge has issued a last-minute injunction temporarily banning the government from concluding talks on the Chagos Islands deal. This decision came after two Chagossian women brought a case against the Foreign Office, leading to Mr. Justice Goose granting “interim relief” at 02:25 BST. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was expected to attend a virtual signing ceremony with representatives of the Mauritian government, but this has been put on hold.
The proposed agreement would involve the UK handing over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while allowing the UK and US to continue using a military base on the archipelago for an initial 99-year period. The UK government has not disclosed the estimated payments the British taxpayer would make to Mauritius as part of the deal, but it is anticipated to be in the billions.
In response to the court injunction, a government spokesperson stated that they do not comment on ongoing legal cases and reiterated that the deal is crucial to protect the British people and national security. Mauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover refrained from commenting on the matter due to an impending hearing.
The legal action was initiated by two Chagossian women, Bernadette Dugasse and Bertrice Pompe, who seek to return to live on the islands. They, along with their lawyer Michael Polak, have criticized the government for neglecting the needs and wishes of the Chagossian people. The judge’s order prohibits the government from finalizing negotiations concerning the transfer of the Chagos Archipelago to a foreign government and maintains the UK’s jurisdiction over the territory.
Representatives of the Chagossian community expressed dissatisfaction with the deal during discussions with Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty. Jemmy Simon from the Chagossian Voices group voiced her horror and anger at the proposed terms of the agreement, stating that it does not benefit the Chagossians. The history of the Chagos Archipelago’s separation from Mauritius, the forced removal of islanders, and the ongoing debate over the territory’s sovereignty add complexity to the situation. Kita perlu memiliki penentuan diri kita sendiri … Kita perlu memiliki hak kita.”
Bertice Pompe (kiri) dan Bernadette Dugasse (kanan) di luar Pengadilan Tinggi di pusat London pada hari Kamis [PA]
Dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, Inggris telah semakin mendapat tekanan internasional untuk mengembalikan pulau-pulau ke Mauritius, dengan kedua pengadilan tertinggi PBB dan majelis umum memihak Mauritius atas klaim kedaulatan.
Pada akhir 2022, pemerintah Konservatif sebelumnya mulai negosiasi atas kontrol wilayah tersebut namun tidak mencapai kesepakatan saat kehilangan kekuasaan dalam pemilihan umum 2024.
Pemerintah Buruh berpendapat bahwa pertanyaan yang masih mengemuka tentang hak Inggris untuk mempertahankan pulau-pulau tersebut menimbulkan risiko bagi masa depan pangkalan militer AS-Inggris.
Minggu lalu Menteri Pertahanan John Healey mengatakan pemerintah harus bertindak “untuk mengatasi bahaya”.
Namun, proposal tersebut telah dikritik, dengan politisi oposisi menimbulkan kekhawatiran tentang hubungan Mauritius yang relatif dekat dengan Tiongkok dan jumlah biaya kesepakatan tersebut.
Setelah intervensi pengadilan, sekretaris luar negeri bayangan Konservatif Priti Patel mengatakan: “Kesepakatan penyerahan Chagos oleh Buruh buruk bagi kepentingan pertahanan dan keamanan kita, buruk bagi pembayar pajak Inggris, dan buruk bagi Chagossians Inggris.”
Dia mengatakan intervensi hukum itu adalah “penghinaan bagi Keir Starmer dan [Menteri Luar Negeri] David Lammy”.
Pemimpin Reform UK Nigel Farage mengatakan: “Meskipun Penduduk Chagos memenangkan perintah pengadilan tinggi untuk mencegah penyerahan pulau-pulau, pemerintah akan berupaya untuk membatalkan hal ini.
“Mengapa Starmer begitu putus asa untuk menyerahkan pulau-pulau tersebut? Tidak ada kebutuhan hukum, itu akan menghabiskan sekitar £52 miliar, dan bermain ke tangan Tiongkok. Mengapa?”
“