UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution asking the International Court of Justice for an advisory opinion on a dispute between Mauritius and the United Kingdom over the Chagos Islands. Those include Diego Garcia, where the United States has a major military base.

The resolution, strongly backed by African and nonaligned nations, was adopted Thursday by a vote of 94-15 with 65 abstentions.

Mauritius' Defense Minister Anerood Jugnauth told the assembly that Britain unlawfully took the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965, three years before the island nation gained independence. He criticized Mauritius' "dismemberment."

Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft strongly opposed the resolution, insisting the United Kingdom has sovereignty and reiterating that the Chagos Islands will be returned to Mauritius once they are no longer required for military purposes. </s> The United Nations General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice on Thursday to give an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Britain's separation of the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius more than 50 years ago.

The request came in a resolution adopted with 94 votes in favour, 15 against and 65 abstentions. The Hague-based court is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.

Britain has overseen the region since 1814 and in 1965 detached the Chagos islands from Mauritius, a colony that gained independence three years later, to create the British Indian Ocean Territory.

It leased the archipelago's biggest island, Diego Garcia, to the United States in 1966, paving the way for construction of an airbase that required the forced removal of some 2,000 people. </s> The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to demand that Britain end its "colonial administration" of the Chagos Islands, which include the U.S. air base on Diego Garcia, and return them to Mauritius within six months. The 193-member world body approved a resolution supporting an advisory opinion in February by the International Court of Justice that the Indian Ocean island chain be given back to Mauritius. The vote was 116-6 in favor, with 56 abstentions. The General Assembly resolution, like the court's ruling, is not legally binding but it does carry weight since the ruling came from the U.N.'s highest court and the assembly vote reflects world opinion.

The court said in its opinion that Britain had unlawfully carved up Mauritius, which the Chagos Archipelago was a part of, in 1965 when Mauritius was a British colony. It said that "the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible."

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said the court established the right of the people of Mauritius to self-determination which the U.K. violated "by excising the Chagos Archipelago" without their consent. He said all nations, including the United Kingdom, are obligated to comply with international law. Britain evicted about 2,000 people from the Chagos Archipelago in the 1960s and 1970s so the U.S. military could build the air base on Diego Garcia. Many resettled in the U.K. and have fought in British courts to return to the islands. </s> UNITED NATIONS: India was among 116 nations to vote in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded the UK withdraw its "colonial administration" from the Chagos Archipelago unconditionally within six months, supporting Mauritius in its quest for the restoration of sovereignty over the island chain in the Indian Ocean.

The General Assembly adopted the resolution Wednesday 'Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965' with 116 votes in favour, 56 abstentions and six nations voting against, including the UK, the United States, Australia, Israel and the Maldives.

The UK retained sovereignty over the islands after Mauritius gained its independence from Britain in 1968.

The islands have since been used for defence purposes by the UK and the United States, which established a military base on the island of Diego Garcia.

The entire Chagossian population was forcibly removed from the territory between 1967 and 1973, and prevented from returning.

The resolution welcomed the February 25, 2019 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legal consequences of the separation of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965.

The principal judicial body of the UN had said in its opinion that the UK Government is "under an obligation" to end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago "as rapidly as possible".

The resolution affirmed, in accordance with the advisory opinion of the Court, that the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius.

It demanded that the UK withdraw its colonial administration from the Chagos Archipelago 'unconditionally' within six months, enabling Mauritius to complete the decolonization of its territory as rapidly as possible.

India voted in support of the resolution, with its Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin telling the 193-member that as part of New Delhi's "longstanding support to all peoples striving for decolonisation, India has consistently supported Mauritius in its quest for the restoration of sovereignty" over the Chagos Archipelago.

"In accordance with our consistent approach on this important issue of decolonization, India supports the draft resolution, submitted by Senegal on behalf of members of the Group of African States.

India, therefore, will vote in favour of the draft Resolution, he said adding that Mauritius is a fellow developing country from Africa, with which India has age-old people-to-people bonds.

Akbaruddin said the ICJ, the highest international legal authority that can consider such issues, has advised that all member states are under an obligation to cooperate with the United Nations in order to complete the decolonisation of Mauritius.

"India shares, with the international community, security concerns relating to the Indian Ocean.

We are conscious of the need for collective commitment towards ensuring the security and prosperity of our oceanic space.

However, this is a separate matter on which we urge the concerned Governments to reach a mutually agreeable understanding as soon as possible," Akbaruddin said.

Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth told the UNGA meeting that the ICJ's findings show the "gravity and extent" of the wrongful act under international law that the colonial power has committed in carrying out the excision of the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 and maintaining the Chagos Archipelago as a colony ever since.

UK Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told the General Assembly that Britain is not in doubt about its sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean territory.

"It has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. Contrary to what has been said today, it has never been part of the Republic of Mauritius," she said.

Pierce added that the joint United Kingdom and United States defence facility on the British Indian Ocean Territory plays a vital role in its efforts to keep "our allies and friends, including Mauritius, in the region, and beyond, safe and secure." </s> UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to demand that Britain end its "colonial administration" of the Chagos Islands, which include the U.S. air base on Diego Garcia, and return them to Mauritius within six months.

The 193-member world body approved a resolution supporting an advisory opinion in February by the International Court of Justice that the Indian Ocean island chain be given back to Mauritius. The vote was 116-6 in favor, with 56 abstentions.

The General Assembly resolution, like the court's ruling, is not legally binding but it does carry weight since the ruling came from the U.N.'s highest court and the assembly vote reflects world opinion.

The court said in its opinion that Britain had unlawfully carved up Mauritius, which the Chagos Archipelago was a part of, in 1965 when Mauritius was a British colony. It said that "the United Kingdom is under an obligation to bring to an end its administration of the Chagos Archipelago as rapidly as possible."

Britain disputes that the islands, which it calls the British Indian Ocean Territory, were ever a colony.

Britain's U.N. ambassador, Karen Pierce, told the assembly: "British Indian Ocean Territory has been under continuous British sovereignty since 1814. Mauritius has never held sovereignty over it and we do not recognize their claim."

Pierce expressed disappointment at the General Assembly vote, which saw only the U.S., Australia, Hungary, Israel and the Maldives support Britain.

But she said the islands remain under British sovereignty, "and it is not in our plan to give the islands to Mauritius."

Pierce said the United Kingdom stands by the 1965 agreement with the Mauritian Council of Ministers to detach the British Indian Ocean Territory in exchange for fishing rights and other benefits and a commitment "to cede the territory when it is no longer needed for defense purposes."

She stressed the importance of the U.S. and U.K defense facility on Diego Garcia to the safety and security of allies and friends, including Mauritius, in the region and beyond in the current "dangerous and uncertain" world.

"It is vital to efforts to combat conflict, terrorism, drugs, crime and piracy," Pierce said.

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Juqnauth told the assembly the court's landmark opinion "confirms the longstanding position of Mauritius and Africa that the decolonization of Mauritius ... will not be completed until Mauritius is able to exercise sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago."

He said Mauritius "is extremely disappointed" in the position of the British government, noting that opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn "has made clear his respect and support for the court's conclusions."

Jugnauth said the 1965 agreement on the Chagos Archipelago "was carried out under duress."

The prime minister said Mauritius has made public commitments at the General Assembly and at the International Court of Justice "that it is prepared to enter into a long-term arrangement with the U.S., or with the U.K. and the U.S., which would permit the unhindered operation of the defense facility in accordance with international law."

Jugnauth said the court established the right of the people of Mauritius to self-determination which the U.K. violated "by excising the Chagos Archipelago" without their consent. He said all nations, including the United Kingdom, are obligated to comply with international law.

Britain evicted about 2,000 people from the Chagos Archipelago in the 1960s and 1970s so the U.S. military could build the air base on Diego Garcia. Many resettled in the U.K. and have fought in British courts to return to the islands.

Jugnauth said their forcible eviction "remains a very dark episode of human history akin to a crime against humanity." But he said the court's advisory opinion gave "these Mauritian nationals who are now mostly in their 70s and 80s "a glimmer of hope."

Jugnauth said the court left it to the General Assembly to decide how rapidly Britain should hand over the islands and the African group, which drafted the resolution, decided on six months.

"This is more than sufficient time to smoothly bring an end to an administration that consists of no more than a handful of personnel," he said. </s> The United Nations has passed a resolution demanding the United Kingdom ends its administration of the Chagos Islands.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution based on findings by the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Britain must hand back control of the archipelago to Mauritius within six months.

Britain forcibly evicted people from the islands, a sovereignty in the Indian Ocean disputed by the UK and Mauritius, in the 1960s and 1970s so the United States could build a military base.

On Wednesday, the UN Assembly backed by 116 votes to six a verdict by the ICJ that the UK’s detachment of the islands and their incorporation into the British Indian Ocean Territory was “unlawful”.

As well as the UK, the resolution was opposed by the United States, Australia, Hungary, Israel and the Maldives.

There were 56 abstentions, including France and Germany, from the vote, which is not legally binding but places huge diplomatic pressure on the UK.

A UN communique said: “Since the decolonisation of Mauritius was not conducted in a manner consistent with the right to self-determination, the Assembly affirmed, the continued administration of the Archipelago constitutes a wrongful act.

“It urged the United Kingdom to co-operate with Mauritius to facilitate the resettlement of Mauritian nationals, including those of Chagossian origin, in the Chagos Archipelago and to pose no impediment to such efforts.”

The Foreign Office said the joint UK-US defence facility on the British Indian Ocean Territory “helps to keep people in Britain and around the world safe from terrorism, organised crime and piracy”.

A spokesman said: “We have however made a longstanding commitment since 1965 to cede sovereignty of the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes. We stand by that commitment.”

On Wednesday, Karen Pierce, the UK’s ambassador to the UN, said the issue had not been for the ICJ as it was currently a “bilateral sovereignty dispute”.

She also said the resolution would “set an unwelcome precedent” over sovereignty disputes “that should be of concern to member states”.

Dame Karen said: “The United Kingdom regrets that the General Assembly has today voted to adopt this resolution.

“The United Kingdom fully recognises the importance of the issue of decolonisation and the UN’s role in that. The United Kingdom … sincerely regrets the manner in which Chagossians were removed from British Indian Ocean territory in the 1960s and the 1970s and we are determined to improve their lives where they have resettled.”

The UK agreed a package including £3 million with Mauritius for the detachment of the archipelago in 1965.

Chagossians were forcibly removed between 1967 and 1973 to make way for a US military facility on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the group.

Mauritius, which gained independence in 1968, maintains that the islands are its own and Chagossians have also brought cases in British courts for the right to return. </s> United Nations, June 23: India has voted against the UK to back of a UN General Assembly resolution seeking the International Court of Justice's opinion on the decades-long dispute between Britain and Mauritius over a strategic island in the Indian Ocean.

In a diplomatic blow to Britain, the General Assembly on Thursday voted by 94 to 15 to ask the Hague-based court to examine the legal status of the Chagos Archipelago, which Mauritius maintains is part of its territory that has been unlawfully claimed by the UK since 1965. Britain cut off the Chagos Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 before granting it independence in 1968. India was among the nations voting in favour of the resolution proposed by Mauritius and co-sponsored by the Group of African States.

"As part of our longstanding support to all peoples striving for decolonisation, we have also consistently supported Mauritius, a fellow developing country from Africa with whom we have age-old people to people bonds, in their quest for the restoration of their sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said in his statement to the General Assembly on the resolution. Akbaruddin said India supports the draft and votes in favour of it, "continuing with our consistent approach on this important issue of decolonisation".

Speaking before the vote, Mauritius Minister Mentor and Minister for Defence Anerood Jugnauth told the 193-member General Assembly that the Chagos Archipelago has been part of his country since at least the 18th century, when France had governed it. He said the entire territory had been ceded to the United Kingdom in 1810, and kept intact until the unlawful excision of the Chagos Archipelago in November 1965.

He added that information had come to light about British efforts to manipulate the international community at the time, and to present the United Nations with a fait accompli regarding the separation. Those facts alone should warrant a fresh look at the situation, he emphasised. </s> UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — The ICJ is requested to provide an advisory opinion on whether "the process of decolonization of Mauritius [was] lawfully completed when Mauritius was granted independence in 1968, following the separation of the Chagos archipelago from Mauritius."

Moreover, the General Assembly is seeking the ICJ to clarify the consequences under international law that arise from the "continued administration by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of the Chagos Archipelago."

Speaking to the General Assembly before the vote, UK Ambassador to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft recalled that "the General Assembly has not concerned itself with this matter for decades… today’s debate has been called for other reasons."

Rycroft then explained the ICJ request is "an attempt by the Government of Mauritius to circumvent a vital principle: the principle that a state is not obliged to have its bilateral disputes submitted for judicial settlement without its consent," adding that the United Kingdom does not and would not give that consent.

The Chagos archipelago is a group of seven atolls comprising more than 60 individual tropical islands in the Indian Ocean and is officially part of the British Indian Ocean Territory.

In 1960s, several thousands of native Chagossians were forcibly deported from the island of Diego Garcia as the United Kingdom secretly leased the archipelago and detached it from Mauritius to make way for US ships and aircraft.

Islanders say the reserve, if created, would effectively ban them from returning. </s> In a setback for the United Kingdom, the General Assembly voted Tuesday to seek an opinion from the top U.N. court on Mauritius’ claim that Britain illegally maintains sovereignty over the Chagos Islands, including Diego Garcia, where the United States has a major military base in the Indian Ocean.

The resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice was strongly backed by African and nonaligned nations, winning approval on a vote of 94-15 with 65 abstentions.

The loss for Britain came as it begins negotiations to leave the European Union, and there was a lack of support for the UK from the 27 other EU members. Cyprus voted in favour of the court referral and 22 EU nations, including Germany, France and Italy abstained. Only Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary and Lithuania voted against the measure in support of Britain.

Mauritius’ defence minister, Anerood Jugnauth, told General Assembly members before the vote that the Chagos archipelago has been part of Mauritius since at least the 18th century and was unlawfully taken by the United Kingdom in 1965, three years before the island nation gained independence from Britain.

He said British Foreign Office memos from 1965 and 1966 reveal “shocking truths” of how the UK sought to present the United Nations with a fait acompli in “the dismemberment” of the Chagos islands and the eviction of the people living there.

British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said the United Kingdom remains confident of its sovereignty over the islands, which it renamed the British Indian Ocean Territory after the 1965 agreement with authorities in Mauritius. He said the UK agreed at that time to return sovereignty to Mauritius whenever the archipelago was no longer needed for military purposes.

The UK concluded an agreement with the United States in 1966 to use the territory for defence purposes. It is now a forward operating location for aircraft and ships that contribute to regional and global security.

The U.S.-UK presence contributes “to guaranteeing the security of the Indian Ocean itself, from which all neighbouring states benefit, including Mauritius,” Rycroft said. “The facilities play a critical role in combating some of the most difficult and urgent problems of the 21st century, such as terrorism, international criminality, piracy and instability in many forms.”

Jugnauth said Mauritius has repeatedly stated “that we do not have any problem with the military base, but that our decolonization process should be completed.”

“More than five decades have passed, and now is the time to act,” he said.

Rycroft accused Mauritius of circumventing “a vital principle” that a country isn’t obliged to have a bilateral dispute submitted for a judicial settlement without its consent — “and let me be clear: we do not and we would not give that consent, because we are clear about what was agreed with Mauritius.”

The resolution asks the International Court of Justice two questions: Was the process of decolonization of Mauritius lawfully completed in 1968. What are the consequences under international law of the UK’s continued administration, including with respect to the inability to resettle Chagos residents on the islands?

U.S. Deputy Ambassador Michele Sison strongly backed the UK, warning that establishing a precedent of going to the court “is dangerous for all U.N. member states.”

The International Court of Justice needs to consider “whether it would be appropriate for it to respond to this request,” Sison said. “In our view it would not.”
In a vote at the United Nations General Assembly, 94 states support a Mauritius-sponsored resolution to seek an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice on the legal status of the disputed Chagos Archipelago.