Wednesday evening saw the UK Chagos Support Association put on a hustings event at the Broadfield Community Centre for the benefit of the Chagossian community in Crawley to help them decide which MP to vote for in the constituency in the general election next Thursday 8th June. The event was attended by the Conservative candidate Henry Smith who has represented the constituency since 2010, the labour candidate Tim Lunnon who is the current councillor for Broadfield South, and

On 17 May a group of Chagossians, led by Chagos Refugees Group leader Oliver Bancoult, met with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis. A strong Roman Catholic culture has been a distinct feature of unique Chagossian society, so marks an important step in their fight for justice. Speaking prior to the visit, Mr Bancoult was clear he hopes to convince The Pope to back the Chagossian people's fight for justice. He notes the interest the Pope has taken in refugees

Last month Oliver Bancoult, leader of Chagos Refugee Group, wrote to the UK Prime Minister asking that he take the necessary steps to deliver justice for the Chagossian people, and to begin a resettlement programme for those Chagossians wishing to return immediately. Mr Bancoult has now received a reply, which offers assurances this issue is being looked at and will be resolved in the near future. You can read Mr Bancoult's letter in full below. Dear Prime Minister, Resettlem

This weekend UK Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama will discuss the future of the Chgossian people. Our Patron Ben Fogle is calling on them to "make history" by delivering some long overdue justice and supporting a fair return programme. UPDATE: We can now confirm the future of the Chagos Islands was discussed by the two leaders, as was reported in the media. As Prime Minister David Cameron and US President Barack Obama meet this weekend, the contents

As President Obama arrives in the country, we thought we'd share our recent letter to the US Ambassador Matthew Barzun calling on the US to state their position on Chagossian return to their homeland. With a recent consultation showing many Chagossian people wish to return and that they would be happy to work with a continuing US military base, there is no reason for President Obama to oppose Chagossian return and indeed he should call on the UK's own Prime Minister David Cam

A Young Fabian’s meeting last night (19th April 2016) on British Overseas Territories gave our Secretary Martin Stanley and Chairperson Stefan Donnelly a chance to speak up for Chagossians’ wishing to return to their homeland. The Chagos Islands, which are formally known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, remain a British Overseas Territory. Unlike all other Overseas Territories, however, the native population was removed as part of a deal which led to the construction of