Dear Listers<\/p>\n
Earlier this year there was a debate on Coral List concerning the Chagos
\nArchipelago and the proposal by the UK Government to implement a Marine
\nProtected Area (MPA). Readers may recall that the indigenous population
\nwas expelled in the 1960s to make way for the US Military Base on Diego
\nGarcia. Since that date the Chagossians have been denied a right of
\nabode and most recently had pursued their case to the European Court of
\nHuman Rights (ECtHR). The case was due to be heard later this year.<\/p>\n
On 1 April 2010 the former Foreign Secretary, David Milliband, announced
\nthe UK’s intention to implement a MPA in the Chagos Archipelago. To date
\nno further action had been taken pending a Judicial Review of that
\ndeclaration by the Chagossians which was filed in the UK Courts in August.<\/p>\n
In a remarkable about turn, the new Coalition Government revealed in a
\nletter from Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP dated 9 September that it is
\nabandoning its defence of the ECtHR case, “opting instead for a friendly
\nsettlement” with the Chagossians. Furthermore the letter declared that
\n“The Foreign Secretary, William Hague, is also committed to a fair
\nsettlement of this long-standing dispute. Steps have already been taken
\nto ensure their [Chagossians] return.”<\/p>\n
This is wonderful news for everyone. It ensures that the Marine
\nProtected Area now has a real chance of being implemented, that the
\nislanders will be entitled to return and indeed could participate in the
\nenforcement of the MPA, preventing it from just becoming a “paper park”.
\nAlthough the concept of a complete “no-take zone” throughout the MPA,
\nand an archipelago devoid of any human habitation (apart from the
\nmassive base on Diego) was attractive to certain conservationists and
\nheavily lobbied by some parties, it was also naive and patently unjust.
\nAlthough it is still early days and there will be many issues to be
\nresolved, we now have the opportunity to move forward with this
\nimportant decision, whilst including all the stakeholders.<\/p>\n
In addition it has been announced that a Swiss billionaire, Ernesto It is an important day for both conservation and human rights.<\/p>\n — _______________________________________________ Dear Listers Earlier this year there was a debate on Coral List concerning the Chagos Archipelago and the proposal by the UK Government to implement a Marine Protected Area (MPA). Readers may recall that the indigenous population was expelled in the 1960s to make way for the US Military Base on Diego Garcia. Since that … Continue reading Richard Dunne, Coral-list: Chagos Marine Protected Area – UK Government drops case in ECtHR and will uphold the right of the expelled Chagossians to return.<\/span>
\nBertarelli, and his British wife are in talks with the UK Government
\nabout providing some of the funding which will be necessary to police
\nthe MPA. It was feared that the spending cuts which the UK Government
\nhas had to make might have prevented the implementation.\u00a0 For the full
\nreport see:
\nhttp:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/environment\/nature\/billionaire-saves-marine-reserve-plans-2077437.html<\/a><\/p>\n
\nRichard P Dunne<\/p>\n
\nSpecial thanks to:\u00a0 Coral-List mailing list
\nCoral-List@coral.aoml.noaa.gov<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/coral.aoml.noaa.gov\/mailman\/listinfo\/coral-list<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"