Rejected petition Restore BOT Status: Declare 1968 Mauritius Independence Illegal

Recognize the 1968 Independence Act as void due to the unauthorized trade of Chagos and the ignored 1967 Rodrigues vote (97.3% to stay British). We demand the UK restore Mauritius, Chagos, and Rodrigues as a British Overseas Territory (BOT) until a legal vote with full consent is conducted.

More details

The 1968 independence was built on illegal acts that violated the Law of Dependencies. In 1965, the Premier traded Chagos without a mandate from the people, breaching the Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865. In 1967, the 97.3% vote in Rodrigues to remain British was forcibly ignored. These actions make the 1968 transition void for lack of consent. Restoring BOT status is necessary to uphold the Rule of Law and provide the protection of the Crown to the people of Mauritius, Chagos, and Rodrigues.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.

Making Mauritius and Rodrigues a British Overseas Territory (BOT) would be a matter for the Mauritian Government to decide, and not something the UK Government or Parliament could unilaterally do.

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 21 January 2026
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