New Delhi: India has said that the process of its decolonisation remains incomplete as long as the atolls continue to be under UK’s control while supporting Mauritius claim over disputed Chagos islands. This is home to Diego Garcia — the key military base of the UK and the US in the Indian Ocean.

Presenting the country’s stand in the oral proceedings on the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) here, India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony said the analysis of historical facts and consideration of the legal aspects confirm that sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago has been and continues to be with Mauritius.

Rajamony was representing India in a four-day ICJ hearing, which began on Monday, on the request for advisory opinion by the UN General Assembly in the matter. Chagos islands came under the colonial administration of the UK as part of Mauritian territory.

An understanding reached in November 1965 between Mauritius and the UK for the retention of the islands by Britain for defence purposes and return thereof to Mauritius when no longer needed for defence purposes.

Rajamony said the legal aspects should root themselves in the historical facts, behaviour of the nations concerned, and the consideration of the issue by relevant administrative and judicial institutions

The diplomat said before Mauritius’ independence in 1968, the UN in December 1960 had proclaimed the necessity of a speedy and unconditional end of colonialism in all its forms. However, detachment of the Chagos archipelago still took place in November 1965.

He said the UN in December 1965 asked the UK to complete the decolonisation of Mauritius and report the same to the General Assembly. Rajamony further said the UK is legally bound by a ruling of the The Arbitral Tribunal, constituted in 2015, to return the archipelago to Mauritius.