In a recent development, the United Nations (UN) has prohibited the use of British stamps on the Chagos archipelago. The impact of this decision centers around the registration, distribution, and transmission of stamps that bear the words British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Given its status as a UN specialized agency and the primary forum for international postal cooperation, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) will cease to acknowledge these stamps going forward.
About Chagos Archipelago and Its Background
The Chagos archipelago, an island group in the central Indian Ocean, is located approximately 1,600 kilometers south of the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. In the 19th century, the Chagos islands were governed from Mauritius, which was then a British colony. Mauritius gained independence in 1968, but the Chagos archipelago continued to be under British control. This administrative separation sparked protests by the Chagossians against what they call an ‘illegal occupation’ by Britain, accusing it of barring them from their homeland.
British Control and Chagossian Deportation
Despite Mauritius gaining independence, the UK retained possession of the Chagos archipelago, which includes the strategic U.S airbase of Diego Garcia. The British government made a payment of over 4 million pounds to Mauritius as compensation for control over the islands. In 1971, approximately 1,500 native islanders were deported from the Diego Garcia island so that it could serve as an airbase leased to the U.S.
Mauritius’ Legal Battle for Chagos Archipelago
Since 1975, Mauritius has been engaged in a legal battle to win back the Chagos archipelago. In a significant ruling in 2019, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) advised Britain to relinquish control over the islands. Following this, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing that ‘the Chagos Archipelago forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius’. The Assembly also urged various UN agencies to extend their support in favor of Mauritius’ decolonization.
India’s Stand on the Chagos Archipelago Issue
India has consistently supported Mauritius’ claims over the Chagos Archipelago. In its submission to the ICJ, India stated that the Chagos Archipelago has always belonged to Mauritius and urged Britain to return sovereignty over the islands to Mauritius. Furthermore, India’s stance is rooted in its commitment to its neighbor Mauritius and its firm anti-colonial principles.
