[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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