CHAGOS ISLANDS AND THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE

That this House notes that the highest court of the United Nations has said that the United Kingdom should end its control of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean as rapidly as possible; further notes that the International Court of Justice has said the Islands were not lawfully separated from the former colony of Mauritius which was forced to give up the Islands, now a British Overseas Territory, in 1965 in exchange for independence; believes that it is important that, out of respect for the operation of international law, and in deference to the human rights of the Chagossians that the Government should comply with the Opinion of the court as soon as practicable; and begin negotiations with the Government of Mauritius on the transfer of sovereignty, the restoration of the Chagos Islanders' right to return and the safeguarding of the integrity and security of the military base on Diego Garcia.