[Coral-List] Chagos Archipelago - Mauritius notifies Universities and NGOs that its consent is required for marine research
Richard Dunne
RichardPDunne at aol.com
Sun Jun 14 15:59:59 UTC 2020
In December 2019 the Republic of Mauritius wrote to a number of
international NGOs and Universities informing them that:
1. The International Court of Justice and the UN General Assembly
requires the UK to end its unlawful occupation of the Chagos and that
the territory forms an integral part of the Republic of Mauritius.
2. Mauritius is firmly committed to the promotion of marine scientific
research and is keen to protect the marine and terrestrial environment
of the Chagos and wishes to create a Marine Protected Area.
3. In the future, all marine scientific research in the Chagos
territorial sea, EEZ or continental shelf requires the prior consent of
Mauritius.
4. Carrying out research in Chagos without Mauritius' consent
contravenes its Maritime Zones Act and makes an individual liable to
fine of up to 30 million rupees (approx USD 750,000) or 5 years
imprisonment. For a 'body corporate' the fine rises to 150 million rupees.
5. Mauritius reserves the right to initiate civil and criminal
proceedings against any idividuals engaged in illegal activity in the
territory of the Republic of Mauritius.
These are very brief extracts - further details can be found in the
report of the Secretary General to the UN dated 18 May 2020 which has
just been released on the UN document website (undocs.org/A/74/834).
--
Richard P Dunne
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