Brighton and Hove Motion to Liberal Democrats' Regional Conference: Refugees from Diego Garcia

8.08.27pm GMT Mon 8th Nov 2004

Jenny Barnard-Langston

Brighton and Hove Motion to Liberal Democrats' Regional Conference

This conference deplores the lack of compassion and support for the refugees from Diego Garcia

We call upon the Government to adequately compensate the families for the loss of their homeland, and provide sufficient resources to assist both islanders where they are currently located and those who would like to settle in the UK.

Jenny Barnard-Langston proposed the motion on behalf of the local party.

She said," The Island had been leased to the USA for use as military base during the Cold War as part of a trade-off for Polaris nuclear missiles by the then Labour Government. There was a systematic and secret programme of re-location of the local population. During the period 1965-1970 Diego Garcians who traveled to Mauritius were denied a return trip to their home island.

"Over time the Islanders became non-people, dispossessed by the British Government to meet a Military Objective"

Now, due to inaction by the Government, the burden of handling these British Citizens is falling on the local Council Tax payer. "West Sussex has had an unplanned additional expenditure of between £0.3 and £0.5 million for emergency accommodation for the refugees." said West Sussex County Councillor Dr James Walsh seconding the motion.

"The UK and USA Governments have a responsibility for what was a secret national decision. The Islanders are entitled to rights as British Citizens."

The Conference carried the motion unanimously.