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ICJ verdict on Chagos archipelago
Why is it in news?
- International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its advisory opinion said that Britain has an obligation to end its administration of the Chagos archipelago and complete the process of decolonisation of Mauritius.
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- Judge’s explanation: Delivering the opinion, ICJ president said the judges had rejected the contention that the issue did not fall within its jurisdiction because it was a bilateral matter for the two countries, and concluded that the decolonisation of Mauritius was not lawfully completed as a result of Britain’s continued administration of the Chagos islands.
- Victory for Mauritius and its supporters: This is a significant legal victory for Mauritius and other nations, including India, which supported its case.
- 1965 pact: Under an agreement struck in 1965, in return for compensation to Mauritius and fishing rights, Britain has maintained control of the islands.
- U.S. military base of Diego Garcia: Chagos archipelago is a home to the U.S. military base of Diego Garcia, under lease from the United Kingdom since the 1960s.
- Wrongful act:(1) The continued administration of the territory by the U.K. amounted to a “wrongful act,” that was not consistent with the right to the people of “self determination.”(2) The judges concluded that any detachment of part of a colony had to be based on the “freely expressed and genuine will” of the people.
- Wider ramifications of this case:(1) The case is seen as having far wider ramifications beyond the two parties immediately concerned as it deals with the legacy of colonialism.(2) It also raises the question of whether agreements struck between colonial powers and their colonies in the final stages their rule could really be seen as legitimate, given the imbalance of power.
Source
The Hindu