MAURITIUS ASKS GOOGLE TO IDENTIFY CHAGOS ISLANDS AS PART OF ITS TERRITORY

Tue 22 February 2022:

In the midst of a dispute with the United Kingdom, Mauritius has reportedly asked Google to identify the Chagos Islands as part of its territory.

The island’s ownership has become a point of disagreement between the UK and Mauritius. Mauritius’ flag was hoisted above the Peros Banhos atoll earlier this month, as Mauritian ambassador to the UN Jagdish Koonjul stated that the country is “reclaiming” the island from Britain.

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth reportedly described the raising of the flag as a “emotional moment” for the country.

The Blenheim Reef had previously been measured by Mauritian survey teams. The British government claims sovereignty over the British Indian Ocean Territory (Biot).

PM Jugnaut had previously stated that the research vessel’s visit to the disputed Chagos Islands was “historic” and that it did not require permission from the UK or the US.

Prime Minister Jugnauth has accused the UK government with breaking international law. The British Indian Ocean Territory has been under British sovereignty since 1814, according to the UK government, which rejects the Mauritius government’s claim to the islands.

The International Court of Justice in 2019 had backed Mauritius while declaring that the UK should give up the islands.

“This will be a historic visit because it is the first time since Mauritius gained independence on March 12, 1968, that the Mauritian state is organising a trip to this part of its territory in the middle of the Indian Ocean without having to seek permission from anyone,” PM Jugnauth had said.

In 1965, Britain separated the Chagos Islands from Mauritius and established a joint military base with the United States on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the archipelago. Mauritius has been requesting the archipelago’s return for decades, even after the United Nations General Assembly voted in its favor.

The UN General Assembly declared in 2019 that the “Chagos archipelago is an integral part of Mauritius’ territory.” Even though the British government signed a lease agreement with the US to use the Diego Garcia base until 2036, the standoff over the island continues.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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