23 February Global Day of Action to Close Bases
23.02.2025
Petition for Base Closure signed by 20 organisations submitted to the Prime Minister
Here is the content of the petition
PETITION FOR BASE CLOSURE
On the occasion of the 23 February “Global Day of Action to Close Bases”all over the world,
We, who represent the undersigned organizations, call on you, as Prime Minister to seize the moment, when the Republic of Mauritius has proven its sovereignty over all its territory, to insist upon the closure of the military base on Diego Garcia, and to amend the Constitution to abolish foreign military bases from our country, while instituting a demand from the British ex-colonizers and American occupiers for rental arrears from the moment of Independence in 1968 to the date of base closure, as well as reparations for Chagossians for the harm they have suffered by their forcible removal, and reparations to the State of Mauritius for prolonged illegal military occupation of so much of Mauritius’ land and sea.
- This will ensure effective exercise of Mauritian sovereignty over the whole of Chagos.
- This will ensure that the military base no longer represents a permanent threat of war, and that war and genocide are not ever again perpetrated from the land we are responsible for.
- This will ensure the land for which we are responsible is not ever again used for illegal imprisonment or torture, either.
- This will ensure that Chagossians have the right to return to the Island most of them came from, Diego Garcia, as well as all the other Chagos Islands, and all Mauritians have the right of free movement, over the whole of Mauritian territory.
- This will ensure that the state of Mauritius is not in violation of the Pelindaba Treaty for a Nuclear Arms Free Africa to which we are a signatory.
- This will ensure an end to the “military base pollution”– a major source world-wide of degradation of air, land and sea – and make possible a proper Marine Protected Area there.
- This will ensure that our country does not become the target for dangerous retaliation if war is ever waged from our territory against a country with which we are not at war.
- This will empower us, the people of the country, to enjoy our “sovereign democratic state”, as enshrined in Section 1 of the Constitution of Mauritius.
- This will help ensure peace on the basis of international law and justice.
Name of signatories
Haniff Peerun, President Mauritius Labour Congress (MLC)
Deepak Benydin, President Federation of Parastatal Bodies and Other union (FPBOU)
Reeaz Chuttoo, President Confederation des Travailleurs des Secteurs Publique et Privé(CTSPP)
Narendranath Gopee, President National Trade union Confederation (NTUC)
Vinesh Sewsurn, President Federation of Civil Service and Other unions (FCSOU)
Clency Bibi, President General Workers Federation (GWF)
Atma Shanto, President Federation des Travailleurs Unis (FTU)
Jocelin Louis, for Rodrigues Private Industries and Allied Workers union (RPIAWU)
Julienne Meunier, for Rodrigues Government Employees Association (RGEA)
Marie Antoinette Casimir for Rodrigues Workers Federation (RWF)
Vidhata Jeewuth, Secretary Nurses’ union
Ram Nowzadick, President Nursing Association
Dain Jahajeeah, Secretary union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE)
Lindsey Collen, Ledikasyon pu Travayer (LPT)
Norman Tambanivoul, for Dr. IdriceGoomany Treatment Centre
Danielle Turner, for Leve Fam!
Rajni Lallah, for Muvman Liberasyon Fam(MLF)
Marousia Bouvery, for ABAIM
Tania Haberland, for Never Again-Olive Resistance
Alain Ah Vee, for LALIT
