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UK removes Mauritian flag from Chagos Island, calls move a ‘political stunt’

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UK removes Mauritian flag from Chagos Island, calls move a 'political stunt'
Mauritius Ambassador to the UN, Jagdish Koonjul, raised the Mauritian flag on Peros Banhos on February 14

British authorities have removed the Mauritian flag planted on the island of Peros Banhos on February 14 by Chagossians during the Rs50million-or-so trip organized by the government.

The removal of the flag comes a few days before the celebrations of the 54th Independence anniversary.

To a question from MP Henry Smith on the subject, on Tuesday March 8, Amanda Milling, Minister of State, who is in charge of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), confirmed that the flag had indeed been withdrawn.

“The UK is in no doubt about its sovereignty over BIOT. We were disappointed that Mauritius turned a scientific survey into a political stunt,” she said.

“The raising of Mauritian flags on outer islands of BIOT was an unhelpful way to approach a bilateral dispute. We removed the flags planted by Mauritius on BIOT,” Amanda Milling told the British Parliament.

Chagossian leader Olivier Bancoult described the removal of the flag as “dishonest and illegal”. 

He recalled that a UN resolution and the International Court of Justice had ruled in favour of Mauritius’ claim of sovereignty.

“London is not sending a good signal and setting a bad example. It is a total lack of respect for institutions,” Bancoult told l’Express.

The development has received mitigated response on the island, with many criticising, in the first place, the trip on board the luxury yacht “Bleu-de-Nimes” that cost taxpayers around Rs50million.

Chagossians in the UK had earlier described the trip as “an obscenely expensive vanity expedition carried out without proper consultation.”

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The information and opinions expressed in our published works are those of authors/sources believed to be reliable. NewsMoris makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information expressed.