For us the argument is fairly simple. Resettlement of the Islands by Chagossians is possible, even maintaining the military base, and there is still will amongst the Chagossian people to do so.
Certainly internal forced replacement still happens and often has terrible consequences for people but internationally the Chagos situation is pretty unique, and what is especially unique is that something can be done about it.
(Link to a now slightly outdated page on our website on Return 2015 campaign)
Hi all, my name's Stefan Donnelly and I am the Committee Chair of UK Chagos Support Association. Firstly, thanks for the donations for those who have chipped in!
To answer some of the questions raised about our group, we are not a registered charity. We did attempt to register but were told our aims were too overtly political to qualify as a charity. So yes we are a non-profit, entirely voluntary I should add, we have no paid staff and committee members get nothing for their work.
On where the money goes, its pretty evenly split between supporting Chagossian community projects (including training classes and Chagos Islands football team), supporting impoverished Chagossians in times of hardship and campaigning for Chagossian right to return.
Over the past year we have done a lot on the latter as the previous Government committed to 'resolving the issue,' though then did not do so. This is everything from paying for transport to protests and printing materials to promoted posts of Facebook.
For reasons of scale we haven't in the past arranged to be audited or published full accounts as it just wouldn't have been worth it for the small amount of money and limited donor base we had. As we look to fundraise more online, however, I appreciate it is reassuring to have that bit of extra detail and I think our next AGM will publish much more substantial reports on our income and spending, which we'll be happy to make public.
The point has been made before to me that the Gmail address looks at bit dodgy and transferring it over to the @chagossuport address (which we do actually hold) is certainly on the to-do list.
Hope that's answered some of the, very legitimate, concerns raised. If anyone has any further questions, on this or anything else about the campaign, feel free to ask
Certainly internal forced replacement still happens and often has terrible consequences for people but internationally the Chagos situation is pretty unique, and what is especially unique is that something can be done about it.
(Link to a now slightly outdated page on our website on Return 2015 campaign)
http://www.chagossupport.org.uk/return-in-2015