Chagossian Leaders' Trip to the US Is a Major Success

At a critical moment in the Chagossian struggle, Chagos Refugees Group leaders Olivier Bancoult and Roger Alexis’ visited Washington, DC and New York City to build support in the US and push President Biden to do the right thing and finally support justice for Chagossians.

The trip generated more media coverage and more support in Congress than ever before. See here and below for links to NPR’s All Things Considered, the Washington Post, and Democracy Now.

Allies in Congress appear interested in supporting a Congressional letter to the Biden administration, a hearing, and other public forms of support.

This is a critical moment in the Chagossian struggle: the UK and Mauritian governments continue to negotiate over the future of the Chagos islands, including Chagossians’ right to return home. To now, the Biden administration has played an unhelpful role in these negotiations, appearing to support ongoing UK sovereignty in Chagos--in violation of the International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly.

Let Us Return USA's challenge is to help Chagossians convince the Biden administration to support Chagossians in finally returning home and receiving proper compensation for more than 50 years in exile.

Media from the Trip: Please share widely!
NPR: Chagos refugees continue the decades-long fight for justice 
Washington Post: They were deported to build a U.S. naval base. Now they want reparations. 
Democracy Now!: “Crime Against Humanity”: Exiled from Diego Garcia for U.S. Military Base, Residents Demand to Return 
Politico: Inching toward a Biden apology on Diego Garcia 
South African Broadcasting Corporation: Chagossians at the UN
United Nations Foreign Correspondents Association: Press conference on Chagos
Africa Now! [starts at 43:00 minutes]: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/wpfw-africanow/africanow-wednesday-3edGNL5VpxE/
 

Human Rights Watch
Watch and share HRW's powerful video about Chagossians 
Read HRW’s report charging the US + UK with "crimes against humanity"