{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/758053.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":758053,"attributes":{"action":"Restore BOT Status: Declare 1968  Mauritius Independence Illegal","background":"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.","additional_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.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":17,"created_at":"2026-01-21T15:46:38.160Z","updated_at":"2026-03-30T07:27:25.197Z","rejected_at":"2026-03-30T07:27:16.077Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-02-16T12:16:50.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"irrelevant","details":"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."},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}