by Nicholas RAINER

This Thursday a boatful of Chagossian islanders will be setting off for a ten-day visit to their long-lost archipelago. Despite this pilgrimage being but one of four exciting developments in the already remarkable history of the exiles, the great majority of the Mauritian population seems to have tired of their plight. Yet the courage and perseverance shown by the islanders against all odds, including the world?s sole superpower, should inspire us all.

The visit itself is a great achievement which can be attributed to the Chagos Refugee Group?s (GRC) indefatigable advocacy and its legal victory in the London High Court in November 2000. Although Queen Elizabeth II quashed the ruling by signing two Orders in Council, it unsettled the British government sufficiently for it to seek American acquiescence for a visit to Diego Garcia. The GRC is now back in the High Court and is challenging the Orders in Council. A ruling is expected soon. It is also demanding compensations in the European court of Human Rights and the appeals court of the District of Columbia in the US. This triple-pronged legal approach will be sure to bear fruit, which is much more that the Mauritian government has ever achieved.

In December last year, prime minister Navin Ramgoolam announced that he would seek a ?formal agreement? on the use of Diego Garcia as a military base. An important fact seemed to be lost on him though. An agreement of any kind presupposes that both sides agree on a matter. In this case, the other party is British prime minister Tony Blair who has never indicated the slightest willingness whatsoever to reach an agreement on Diego Garcia. The status quo suits him just fine.

Thus, if one goes by Theodore Roosevelt?s approach to foreign policy, which was simply ?Walk softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far?, then one would think that Mauritius would adopt a ?Walk loudly? stance. In the absence of a stick of any kind, that is. Not so. Instead, we remain cosily in bed with our colonial masters, which is rather unfortunate since the Anglo-Saxon school of thought rewards loyalty only very rarely.

More often than not, it perceives subservience as an invitation for more abuse. The president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, can vouch for that. After staunchly supporting the United States in its War on Terror, and at the cost of huge unpopularity at home, Musharraf was unable to secure a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) during George W. Bush?s whistle-top tour of the country.

The Economist reports that the latest joke in diplomatic circles is ?India got a nuclear deal and Pakistan not even a little BIT?. You see, that?s the gist of realpolitik and there is absolutely no reason to believe that Mauritius would ever be treated differently or with more discernment. We certainly don?t possess the political nous or gravitas to stymie the pattern. Need I mention sugar?

Let?s hope that a blue sky and calm waters accompany the Chagossians on their journey. And although this visit will surely be the emotional climax of their struggle, the legal battles will hopefully prove that even the most powerful nations are accountable for their actions. And that would be a victory for all of us.