Olivier Bancoult: « Chagos is our home that we were forcibly exiled from by the UK »

My name is Olivier Bancoult. I am a Chagossian born on Peros Banhos. My submission is in my personal capacity.
I represent a voice of the forcibly exiled Chagossian people. That is to say, the “tarzans” and “Man Fridays” (“Appendix A”) that were forcibly exiled from their home by the British government. Upfront, let us please be honest. Let’s not pretend that racism hasn’t been a major factor in this ongoing injustice.
This is and has always been a simple human rights issue. All Chagossians have ever asked for is to be treated equally, with human dignity, in respect of our human rights and our right to live in our home where we belong.
For 50 years, the UK governement has never afforded us that simple respect. As MPs, You would not tolerate this in your own constituency. Why are your fundamental human rights, and that of your constituents, more important than mine and that of all Chagossians?
Prior to our forcible expulsion, our pets were gathered up and gassed. Chagossians were told that if they did not comply with their exile and board the ship, they would meet a similar fate. Out of a sense of terror and fear, knowing that resisting might possibly be fatal, and not knowing their fate, they complied. On short notice, they were allowed to to bring one suitcase of belonings.
Chagossians were being forcibly exiled or “wished on to” a foreign territory, never to return again. The was done by the U.K. in conjunction of the United States, and apparently at their behest. Let us remember, the United States has no constitutional, legal or jurisdictional relationship to “the few rocks” that we Chagossians consider our home. Yet, they have effectively mandated our exile from our rightful home. The British Government has dutifuly complied, and continues to do so.
To circumvent any legal constraints, the British Government created and maintained the fiction that there was no population. Despite the evidence of multi-generational existance, Chagossians were deemed “contract workers.” that had no right to be there. The disingenuous narrative told to the world is that our “labor contracts” were being terminated and they were all being “relocated.” “Relocation” ceratinly sounds better than “being forcibly exiled against their will”.
We were taken, agianst our will to foreign territories, as Mauritius and the Seychelles were to Chagossians. We were uncermoniously dumped into abject poverty. We were made to live in what would be considered “garden sheds” in the U.K. There was no infrastructure, no utilities and no viable means of even simple subsistance. Treated as unwelcome outsiders and interlopers in these foreign territories, we miraculously persevered.
We always endured with a sense of positivity.
We watched our grandparents, parents, brothers & sisters die. We watched our Chagossian refugee leaders die.
We watched our familes dispersed.
We watched our families strategically divided by British Government enticements. We were continuoulsy deceived by the British Government’s words and actions.
We suffered defeats, but we were always steadfast.
All the while, we watched complete strangers inhabit and enjoy OUR home. A home they we have not been allowed to return to.
Yet, we never, never gave way to hate.
For half a century Chagossians maintained faith that, eventually, we will be treated equally as human beings.
We believe that justice will prevail.
We believe that we will return home.
We have protested for 50 years in that belief. We will never give up. Ever!
Given our now 50 year experience of duplictity, we wonder if the questions being asked are to provide plausible justifications for continuing unjust policies and violations of Chagossian’s human rights. Just another pretext to deny us our right to return to our home?
Again, I retiterare, all the Chagossian people have ever asked for is to be treated equally with respect for our fundamental human rights and the right to live in our home. This is a right that you probably take for granted because you are able to enjoy it daily, as do all British citizens.
In reviewing the answers to your questions, I hope that you remember that this is only about common human decency and fundamental human rights. It is that simple.
Before you proceed in reading my responses, here is a question that deserves an explanation to your committee;
Literally billions of people, of former British colonies/territories, enjoy and avail of their human rights afforded by the U.N. Charter and subsequent declarations. Why is it that the U.K. government persists in denying the most basic of human rights to a small handful of Chagossian people?
There are approximately 750 U.S. bases around the world. Almost alll of those bases have local populations. I am certainly unaware of any forced exiles of local people at those bases. These populations presumably enjoy their human rights and are not denied access to their home. Why does the British Government support the United States insistance on the exile of Chagossians?
Lastly, as a matter of respect towards the Chagossian people, I respectfully insist that the British Governement stop referring to the Chagos Islands as “the ancestral home to the displaced Chagossian people.2” It unncessarily adds insult to injury. We would appreciate your good faith gesture in assuring that this practice is stopped forthwith. As you well know, Chagos is our home that we were forcibly exiled from by the British government.
It has been 50 years now, I’ve watched my family die one by one. I’ve watched my Chagossian friends and mentors die. The only thing they ever wanted was to enjoy their fundmental human rights and be able to return home.
I sincerely hope that Professor Phillipe Sand’s KC prediction is true.
“In the end, the British government will eventually do the right thing”
Thank you for taking your time to consider the human rights perspective of my submission.
Sincerely,
Olivier Bancoult