I don't own a motor car, but you should listen to me anyway

The facility to sign petitions on the Prime Minister's website, has been the source of some consternation in recent weeks, after the government made the mistake of treading on the toes of Britain's motorists. Rather less fanfare accompanied the launch of a petition condemning government policy vis-a-vis the Chagossians and demanding that the islander's ancestral homes be returned to them:

We believe that the forced expulsion of the Chagos Archipeligo at the request of the USA for the sole purpose of establishing a military base on Diego Garcia to be a shameful episode in our countrys' recent history.

Perhaps even more shamefully, the UK government now intends to stop the Chagossians from ever returning to their homes. To do this it will have to overturn or ignore two High Court Judgements allowing the Chagossians the right to return. This is in spite of Home Secretary Robin Cooks position of not contesting the decision to allow repatriation in 2000.

It seems the continuing ''War on Terror'' allows for the contiued theft of these Islands, simply for their strategic position in relation to the Gulf and any future campaigns.

This certainly isn't the first petition organised in support of the Chagossian (see e.g. here, here and here) and it's unlikely to be the last, but as the UK Chagos Support Association note, "It only takes a moment and, while it might not change the world, it adds to the pressure, as this recent episode demonstrated." So, what are you waiting for? Go sign it.