When we talk about colonialism, we usually think of a time way back in the 20th century. It might look like it was a thing of the past but there are still places which are under illegal colonization by the biggest colonizers in history.
One of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia, is still under British occupation. The Tamil refugees who are stuck at the island are forced to live a miserable life which can only be compared with that of the British colonies of the past.
The condition of these refugees who are mainly from Sri-Lanka is so terrible that there has been many suicide attempts by them in the last few years. Even children have taken part in hunger strikes.
A UN court has declared Britain’s occupation of the island as completely illegal. The UN has also asked the US and the UK to pay reparation to the people of the island for forcefully displacing them.
It is a matter of shame for a country like the UK which often lectures other countries on humanitarian rights. Such illegal occupation should immediately end and sovereignty reinstated to finally end the chapter of colonization.
