0:00
more than half a century after they were driven from their homeland, stripped of their islands
0:03
and scattered across continents. The Chagossians have taken an absolutely extraordinary and
0:09
unprecedented step. They formed a government in exile as a last stand to keep the Chagos
0:15
Islands as British. Well, earlier today, the Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice indicated
0:20
that Reform were considering recognising this government in exile. I'm delighted to present
0:27
to you now, the interim first minister of the Trugosian exile government
0:31
Misli Mandarin, as well as my panel. Of course, that's still Cyrano Jay Warden and the
0:37
journalist and former press editor, Paddy Eshtown, Joe Phillips. Misli Mandarin, welcome to
0:43
the studio. It's an astonishing development and it was in this very studio, in fact
0:47
You first said you would fight and you would die for your country
0:51
Now the interim leader. Yes, thank you for having me, Martin, and all your
0:56
So, DB News viewers, yes, I must still stand by my word
1:01
I will die for my country to stay British. And I'm so proud my people choosing me to be the first minister
1:10
And I can't tell how much pride in me to do the fight
1:16
Now the fight begins in another stage now. Thank you so much. Mr. Mendren, of course, you came here tonight
1:21
You also brought your extended Trigossian family. We've got a picture. Look at that
1:25
Magnificent. We've got a whole army of Chagossians. That's not his family, that's his cabinet
1:29
OK or a bit of both But on a serious point Ms Leona clearly you the most passionate people What are you hoping to achieve So the main main importance that where we in this situation right now
1:42
is a military base, the UK and US military base. As Chek Gaution, as British Chek Gaution
1:50
we're going to secure that military base. So if you give the island to Mauritius
1:56
there's no guarantee to it, with the influence of China in the Indian Ocean, in the Indo-Pacific
2:01
But us as a government in exile, as a British overseas territory government
2:08
we're going back, we're going to secure that UK and US military base
2:13
as British to Gaussian and we're under the sovereignty of the British
2:18
and under the King Charles III. Are you hopeful that the establishment will listen to you
2:23
You have the backing, I understand, of Reform UK. The Labour Party, though, they seem to be standing by their guns
2:29
They seem determined to, some people might say, surrender the Chagossian Islands
2:33
So the Labour Party, they're excused about the certainty of the base
2:37
the legality of the base. If we give that to Mauritius, there's no any certainty
2:43
It will be the same thing, because we're going to have to fight again as British to get back the island from Mauritius
2:49
but we don't want that. So the government better listen to us as British Chagossians
2:56
and we never give up. And I would say something in my language, in Creole French
3:01
it means the Tergoshans are strong and Tergoshans are alive. Sir Ronald, Joe Phillips
