WIREDGOV

The Chagos Island Community Association (CICA) regrets to announce the death of Chagossian fighter Regina Mandarin, who died of pneumonia on Monday 16 February at the age of 68.

Regina was a leading executive member of (CICA) in Crawley, West Sussex and stalwart of the campaign of the Chagossian people to return to their homeland in the Indian Ocean.

She was born in 1940 on the Peros Banhos atoll in the Chagos Archipelago. Regina was forcibly removed along with her family, on different ships, to Mauritius by the British government of Harold Wilson which had signed a secret deal with the US government to use the main island of Diego Garcia as a US military base.

In Mauritius, Regina was in the front line of countless demonstrations opposing the ruthless expulsion of the Chagossian population and brought this revolutionary determination with her to her new home in the UK.

Straight away she took a leading role in a non-stop demonstration outside Crawley Social Services to protest at the continued injustice being handed out to the Chagossian people who were told they were not entitled to council housing because, quote: they had made themselves homeless!

She attended every picket of the High Court and Parliament and led the intervention to oppose a plan for the islanders to return to just the outer islands which left the military base intact.

When the Law Lords voted in favour of US imperialism in November 2008 to uphold the present governments appeal to bar forever the Chagossians return, this made her more determined and marched with CICA members and supporters straight to Downing Street to protest and hand in a petition, not for the first time.

Regina was instrumental in leading the fight to get the islanders cause recognised in the trade union movement and was in the influential CICA delegation which received a standing ovation from PCS delegates at their 2007 conference that immediately passed a resolution supporting the islanders right to return.

Subsequently she went on to speak at a mass meeting in London, joining leading trade unionists and John McDonnell MP on the platform. She attended all CICAs meeting with the trade unions including their successful fringe meeting at the TUC 2008 Congress. Regina was proud to be Chagossian, marching and leafleting with CICAs We Will Return to Diego Garcia banner in Crawley, Brighton and London.

As a proud and caring mother of five children she fought like many Chagossians to the very end to unite her family because the British government still refused two of her children UK passports. Fortunately, just before she died she was able to visit Mauritius to be reunited with family and friends. As well as five children, Regina leaves behind 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and countless friends and supporters inspired by her dogged determination, her passion and principled stand on the fundamental question of the islanders right to return and the removal of the US military base on Diego Garcia.

Her daughter Jessica said: Even though Regina is no longer here, her children will continue the campaign for the Chagossians right to return to their homeland.

PCS deputy general secretary, Hugh Lanning, said 'Our thoughts and sympathies are with Regina's family - for a woman who was widely respected and worked so hard to achieve justice for the Chagos Islanders.'

Regina's funeral is at 10.00am on Monday 23rd February at St Edward the Confessor church, Hillcrest Close, Pound Hill, Crawley, RH10 4EQ.