Palabras clave reconocidos. por ser lucha asu visibilidad dar así para comunidad la de miembros con creativa escritura de taller un olvido, organizamos el en caiga que tragedia su impedir Para perenne. invisibilidad auna que condena los perversa narración una vacío, territorio del narración la alo que denominamos unida está comunidad esta de oficial historia la pues, Así militar. y económico imperialismo un en basado político acuerdo un preservar para ambiente sino medio del protección de ecológicas no por razones natal tierra asu aregresar derecho el Chagosianos alos denegado han 2010. año el en británicos Los marina reserva declarada Territory, Ocean que fue Indian British colonia, nueva una inventar necesario fue ello Para militar. base una construir pudieran que americanos los para natal tierra su de desahuciados fueron los cuales Chagos, islas las de los de habitantes tragedia la describimos artículo este En Resumen Keywords recognition. and for identity fight Chagossian to the visibility order to grant in community of the members with workshop writing a creative into oblivion, we organized falling from Chagossians of the plight the territory. To empty of an narration prevent official the in imbricated are stories their as erasure to historical condemned been has community this Therefore imperialism. military onand economic based agreement political the to safeguard but rather environment, the not to protect homelands to their to return right the Chagossians the to allow refused have 2010. in British reserve The amarine Territory, declared Ocean be would which Indian British the invented, colony Anew was base. military American for an way to make homeland their from forcibly evicted Islanders Chagos of the tragedy the we outline article this In Abstract Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses Estudios de Canaria Revista : Chagos, Imperialism, Creative Writing, Identity, Writing, Creative Memory. Imperialism, : Chagos, THE TRAGEDY OF THE CHAGOS ISLANDERS CHAGOS OF THE TRAGEDY THE THE MYTH OF THE EMPTY TERRITORY: EMPTY OF THE MYTH THE LA TRAGEDIA DE LOS HABITANTES DE LAS ISLAS CHAGOS ISLAS LAS DE HABITANTES LOS DE TRAGEDIA LA : Chagos, imperialismo, escritura creativa, identidad, memoria. identidad, creativa, escritura imperialismo, : Chagos, Universitat de Lleida & Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona de Autònoma &Universitat Lleida de Universitat Esther Pujolràs-NoguerEsther &Felicity Hand DOI: DOI: EL MITO DEL TERRITORIO VACÍO: TERRITORIO DEL MITO EL https://doi.org/10.25145/j.recaesin.2021.82.11 , 82 ; April 2021, pp. 155-172;April

ISSN: e-2530-8335

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 155 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 156 Angle, ou ras nou bouse manze nou bouse ou ras Angle, arive inn Angle Sagos dan arive inn angle Misie arive inn Angle mo lame dan ti Kouto dekoke 13 ena Mo an ti Sagos dan 13 ena Depi an mo ti 13 ena Mo an ti Mo ti ena ena ti Mo

13 an

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 157 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 158 all Chagossians and their supporters.” their and Chagossians all to dedicated is and on Chagos, (and other) songs these sang who Chagossians to tribute pays album “This Chagossians: to atribute is album cover, the back the in stated As of Edinburgh. University 1 jobless Even we are if doesn’tHe just care master a“neverHe is mind” He doesn’t care Mauritius in us overboard threw Mauritius The It thrice blew oh my family, forget, never I’ll I won’t forget cemetery the in her over there I left I won’t forget my mother forget, never I’ll I won’t forget mouths our You, from bread took our British, came The British Chagos in landed masters The British came The British my hand in knife coconut I held the thirteen I was Chagos in thirteen Iwas Since thirteen I was boulo mem nou pena Kant bien foupamal Li misie-la bien mind never Li bien foupamal Li Moris nou dan zet inn Mauritius kou trwa Soufle mo fami mopa bliye pou Zame Mo pu pa bliye mo’nn simitier Laba dan kit Mo bliye pou pa mo mama bliye, pou mo pa Zame Mo bliye pou pa

Group Tanbour Chagos. Leritaz Kiltir Chagossien. Chagossien. Kiltir Leritaz Tanbour Chagos. Group I was thirteen

1

2018. Chagos Refugees Group and Group and Refugees 2018. Chagos “she”. Islanders. Chagos on blog the our for chosen have we title the is this Incidentally, moment of displacement. original that to refer to used repetitively workshop protection support from the received and poles apart is of Diego Garcia, island of the use way for to military removed be the had to make that objects dispensable people, theChagossian of handling ruthless The to Mauritius. Chagossians last the without ahomeleft from 1967 to 1973, ship, Nordvaer the last brought the year the were its independenceislanders 1968. in thousand gained two which Mauritius, The colonythe then British was of what of formedpart Chagos The base. a military as to used British be by the over were Americans most to populated, handed the the was García which of Diego Islands, Chagos The migrated. finally where many or UK the Mauritius in people, resettled homeland forcibly and from their evicted visible. islanders displaced of the tragedy the to make ameans as University organized from the of Mauritius, Khoyratty Dr Farhad with we, together workshop that writing creative the namely oblivion, against aperformance present discuss and will Chagossians– Against Injustice –Writing second section the to Memory whereas Fight and Cultural Myth Islanders of Chagos the of dispossession history colonial the devotedbe to outlining will Kidnapping– Ruthless of a –TheVictims Islanders. of article Chagos the section first The colonialism. of contemporary instantiation hence position acrucial it as of and displacement history their academically attempt to legitimize an in Islanders of Chagos the to contribute visible desire tragedy from our the to remember make and stems article oblivion. This against performance aresisting of resilience, remonstrance apowerful her uprooted as song emerges thus, and ruthlessly is fellow Chagossians, she which in instant the recalls whereby adult Chagossian an framework a remembrance within Thesong Mauritius. works in thrown literally sold” it, was “the land put moment Chagossians when, fateful the as captures thirteen) Iwas an” (When “Mo 13 ena ti because is Islanders on Chagos the article our song to start particular spirit the why ofthis ofhave protest with chosen dissent Thewe them songs. reason infusing while life depict of episodes ordinary song lyrics sega ancestors, African plea enslaved of the their Echoing islands. Ocean of plantations Indian colonial the forged within genre musical a syncretic of sega, rhythm to the Islanders, Chagossian Chagossien Tanbour Kiltir Group Leritaz Chagos. “Mothe 13 ena recordformthat ti an,”thesong songs 12 total of first the is 3 2 thedisplaced 50-year-oldis of a story Islanders theChagos of tragedy The

The singer’s name is Mary Joyce Mercida and this explains the use of the female pronoun pronoun female the of use the explains this and Mercida Joyce Mary is name singer’s The writing creative our in participants the that sentence the is sold” was land the “When VICTIMS OF A RUTHLESS KIDNAPPING OF ARUTHLESS VICTIMS 2 and they were therefore displaced from their homeland and homeland and from their were therefore displaced they and THE CHAGOS ISLANDERS. CHAGOS THE sung in Kreol, the language of the language the Kreol, in sung

3 , alongside her, alongside other

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 159 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 160 their land is a quest for aquest is justice. land their Nation in obvious John Pilger’sdisturbingly documentary is moving This detail. a trivial as regarded people was presence the other words, were in their expendable, so on islands the civilization no functioning was there Americans, the and British the to According subjects. didn’tpolitical as they that fiction exist the maintaining of by contempt attitude imperious showed British islanders the an the land, towards to the right their of acknowledging generations. Instead several back people dating 19 early the since islands the on living been had 2018, Chagossians (Johannessen as 279). untrue course is of This “floatingpopulation,” workers or,is temporary that labourers imported a so-called as but rather theislands, of inhabitants permanent as out. were They not regarded Chagossians the BIOT to kick of sole creating was the purpose undeniable that is 2018, but (Johannessen basis” infrequent 268). somewhat on aregular Mauritius It and world Chagos the but connected before creation of the BIOT Ocean “the Indian of 107). dust empire?” Low (Chan rid of remaining the bent on getting seemed British when the at a time Ocean colony anew Indian the in “Why asks: pertinently Low Chan Jocelyn historian Mauritian colony the As fact of Mauritius. in Territory of was what of Ocean detachment part the (BIOT),Indian just to justify government British other words,In the fit saw invent to colony, a new the British Seychelles. the and to Mauritius them sending and Islanders remaining the removing later by forcibly and treatment, gone who for had toof medical Mauritius Islanders thebyimportation theand 1973, return of supplies preventing by restricting first entire archipelago the depopulated governmentgovernment, literally UK had the of US request the the At formulated. was werethere inhabitants no indigenous contended that that conspiracy Whitehall way the this In base. for aUS military would become available Diego Garcia US to that so the 1966in islands the to lease agreement an following Islands of population of removal Chagos the secret the and Territory. Ocean Indian British of new the to illegal form part 1968 In began Britain Mauritius from colonial government Chagos UK excised the politicians, Mauritian 2006, 298). In (Jeffery 1965,for export independence with following negotiations coconut producing the coconut in plantations, copra and oil most working 2000, apopulation of had approximately Chagos century By mid-twentieth enforced. the or either voluntary amigrant, was there everybody population as no indigenous has but itself Mauritius, Mauritius via there who arrived Madagascar and Africa imperialism. on economic military and based agreement political the to safeguard not is homelands to to protect environment, their the but to return right the rather 2010, Chagossians in the to allow reserve a marine but refusal area the their declared in Argentina with 1981. conflict the during TheBritish Islanders Falkland by the on to argue that if Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam –the first Prime Minister of Minister Prime first –the Ramgoolam Sir Seewoosagur if that on to argue United at the issue the not Nations120). Low (Chan toraise goes Low Chan and over it Chagos the completely decided not as to its claims put blameless forth (2004), where he argues that the recuperation of the Chagossians’ right to right recuperation of Chagossians’ the the that (2004), where he argues The newly independent The newly comenot issue does state Mauritius of outthis of thefrom isolated outside fairly were inhabitants their and Islands Chagos The East fromcoastal slaves with populated were originally Islands Chagos The th century, proof of which are the numerous graves of century, numerous proof the graves are of which Stealing a remains committed to seeking the right to resettle Chagos. to resettle right the to seeking committed remains Group Refugees Chagos the setbacks, but these to Mauritius despite all Islands control of Chagos the return UK the demanded –unsuccessfully– Resolution has The2019 Chagos. to resettle right the United toNations seeking committed Group remains Refugees Chagos the setbacks, ongoing but these despite still all are independence. for total claiming are others while Mauritius to returning Chagos groups favour in the be of would certain that it to say suffice but UK the in and Mauritius in communities Chagossian the among sovereignty tug-of-war over political the and proceedings into legal the to delve further article 2008. in theLords in House of appeal won its final 2007,in Appeal of Court the in but unsuccessfully governmentUK The appealed favour of Islanders. in the ruled which Court High from the rebuke shaming –a 2006 in legislation latter of this review won a judicial Bancoult’sOlivier team legal homeland. to their forever people from returning the so territory would banned be from entering the preventing Chagossians 2004 in ordinance immigration a new prerogative to impose royal territory. government the the UK used the response, In of laws to the contrary it since was unlawful been had depopulation ofthe Chagos Group that leader, concluded 2000 Refugees in Bancoult, Olivier of Chagos the 2007, 963). (Jeffery the 2003 compensationname in in review further A judicial government 1978compensation UK in from the 1982 and for claim but lost alegal financial limited won 4500Chagossians second generation of The their offspring. plus approximately islanders surviving document thousand Their records one Chagos. to to return right the compensation and for fair have campaigned Mauritius in groups Chagossian various years the Over migrants. for of integration new the the 2010, (Jeffery state of new the viability the 1102)scenario thenot ideal was which threatening unemployment rising shortage ahousing and strife, interethnic with volatile independence the were of highly Mauritius after up immediately to and unsanitary. and precarious are– still many were −and lowestconditions to position the relegated society. and in Portliving in Their Louis were disembarked once they devices own to their were left Chagossians deported the as of tenets humanity basic the with accordance in to act failed Mauritius world stage. on the importance and its size would increase territory of Mauritian part as waters– theintervening –and happily away. signed Archipelago inclusion The theChagos of it that over sovereignty islands the claiming is Mauritius that recentonly years in 1965 in Conference of Constitutional the 118; Low (Chan 304). 2006, is It Jeffery favourin decideindependence of thegovernment close for at Mauritius would finally British the Archipelago, he on proved if excision the of Chagos that the conciliatory him– to convince brilliantly manoeuvred having British –the become convinced had he because conceded was it Garcia on Diego finally independent Mauritius– 6 5 4

See de l’Estrac, 2011 chapter XIII for a detailed discussion on the sovereignty issue. sovereignty on the discussion adetailed for 2011 XIII chapter l’Estrac, de See 2010 2016. 72; Lobo 13. 2014 Johannessen 1&2; Allen, chapters Stephen See 2011. & Vine 2010. Ravi Jeffery 345.See and 98-100 4 5 It is true that the years leading leading years the that It true is It is beyond the scope of this It of beyond scope this is the 6 The legal proceedings proceedings The legal

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 161 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 162 (FCO) Territories Director, significant: Overseas equally are revealing. exceedingly are counterparts American their and Foreign officials Office between private meetings recording cables department US state are of of that documents aseries leaking recent the concerned, is area reserve for creation of marine the rationale the the (Lobo 13-14; livelihood Rincon2010). main their as it fishing, wouldfar ban As it it impossible would as make for to since there live them to return, block their 2010, project in the to aploy be reserve claimed amarine islanders the declared 2011, (Johannessen area” 204). military the visitors left after until and not redistributed were confiscated cameras more “all controlled as much was but on stay Diego Garcia the visit for islanders− the to ahumanitarian opposed as apilgrimage as regarded −what was 2006 in islands to the visit permitted was group of a select Chagossians 2007). that It (Curtis true of responsibility is any hands their washing thus of Chagossians the of areturn side to feasibility decide the it for other is the that claim both British the side, US and the each and lease 50-year the (Sandextend 2009, arekeen to of base 120). the building Americans the The by caused damage environmental immense outside the US, and the base military American who contractors largest work the on Diego Garcia, civilian the and women and US servicemen 4000 by the pollution to the as caused question arises would counterproductive. be Therefore,the warming interaction on global human and would precarious longer be the life term in that claimed it which was in study conducted end afeasibility they homes to this to their and to return Chagossians was impossiblethat the it for asserted had continually ForeignBritish Office Chagossians’ advocates” (Curtis, website; italics in original). in website; italics (Curtis, advocates” Chagossians’ the than more powerful lobby far is UK’s “environmental the opined that Roberts case, their press to vigorously continue resettlement of Chagossian advocates the archipelago’s former residents of claims resettlement to paid put in effect, would, park a marine establishing that [Roberts] islands. BIOT’s on Fridays” the or “Man footprints” uninhabited “no be would there human on areserve, HMG’s to the thinking current According Office’s Commonwealth theand Foreign conclusions The Roberts, Colin of website). (Curtis, reserve were amarine Archipelago Chagos entire the if islands the on resettlement for claim their pursue to impossible, if not difficult, find it would BIOT’s the that inhabitants former upheld. of He BIOT said value was strategic the and were safeguarded US interests that to assure reserve marine of the details the negotiate carefully US should and UK the that He agreed purposes. military for BIOT, of the on USG use Garcia, impinge no Diego way in would including − largest the world’spark − marine ofa establishment the that insisted official Counsellor] 12.The on May [Political informed Polcouns (FCO)official Office Territory Commonwealth and Foreign (BIOT), a senior Ocean Indian British of the waters and reefs to the protection environmental comprehensive providing or “reserve” park” a“marine to establish Government] like Majesty’s would [Her was area the When not clearly on sideTime is the of Chagossians. the (MPA), protected area creation of marine the the the orderIn to justify . Responding to Polcouns’ observation that the the that to Polcouns’ observation . Responding asserted postcolonial scholars, it was in their stature as colonial victims that we were drawn we were drawn that victims colonial as stature their in it was scholars, postcolonial their protectionof generated environmental to is justify a discourse twist, a cynical In area. the in interests American and British preserve independence of former “colony”, colonies, anew BIOT, the to as so created is imminent the enterprise: amid of colonial/imperialistic the ambivalences and ironies into a unique the insight with provides us it also time, same at the power and, forces of machinations of ruthless the illustration painful excruciatingly an is Islands of Chagos the case the once again, respect, this in of and, colonization trauma the in literature of trauma studies. the within should inscribed be to mind, which, our and loss and fragmentation by nurtured persistently is that a tragedy experience, enveloping Chagossian the tragedy the withoutindeed is ahome. left This literally and deracinated who are sorely of on those impinges lives the that malaise existential an as captured thus is (Said 173). never surmounted” be can sadness home: its true Exile its essential and self the between place, anative and being ahuman forced between rift unhealable about but terrible tothink experience,” (Said 173) he the continues, is “it and, to compelling strangely “is asserts, he Exile, exile. most pungentof definitions dispossession. of colonial essence of global the example distressing albeit a stalwart as materialize they such as and interests national Mauritian and British, American to prey fell Islands Chagos The citizens. were not Islanders Mauritian Chagos the speaking, Strictly abandonment homeland Mauritius. and displacement in their in resulted of astate which utter powerlessness in Islanders Chagos the US left the and UK the between transaction territory.political This become American easily could territory this that BIOT so created the elsewhere, was we have discussed as dence, but of Mauritius upon advent the part of indepen integral an envisioned as was Toddterritory and (Davis Islands Chagos the 774). times, colonial British During itself” Todd’s of nation-state structure the legitimacy the words, “the and bounds case the considered be in to challenge further Thereis a inhabitants. native of their actions “destructive” the asite as to protected be against Islands Chagos presents the that environment-friendly-constructed to an jargon by resorting sanctioned legally is occupation military A straightforward of power manipulation discourses. linguistic of apungent the example as it stands as inasmuch globalization and nationalism 269). 2018, (Johannessen Ocean” of Indian the middle the in right harbour maritime perfect its “V-shaped as atoll provided a strategy of United military the global States’ wide WRITING MYTH AND MEMORY TO FIGHT CULTURAL TO FIGHT MEMORY AND MYTH WRITING The decision to establish a military base on Diego Garcia was clearly part part clearly was Garcia on Diego base military a The decisionestablish to The trauma of exiles is, at least in the modern era, conspicuously the entrenchedera, modern in is, at least exiles of trauma The offers Said onethe Exile,” of Edward entitledon “Reflections essay an In case The of / for the Chagos Islands and that is a challenge addressed to, in Davis and and to, Davis in addressed a challenge is that and Islands Chagos the INJUSTICE AGAINST THE CHAGOSSIANS THE AGAINST INJUSTICE of/for the Chagos Islands posits a challenge to studies of trans to studies posits achallenge Islands Chagos the purely colonialist bias. As As bias. colonialist

- -

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 163 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 164 whereas the sega songs created after displacement focus entirely on reproducing focus displacement the after created songs sega the whereas life, tone joys sorrowsof and the everyday a realistic in described archipelago the resident by in islanders performed marker– cultural indisputable Chagossian –an songs the sega how notices Jeffery narrative, of collective the process romanticizing the example of an As life. daily of the hardships notes, of Jeffery Laura as erasure, edenic. as territory– empty –the theland of mythification away, the in which, continuity enhances of geographical alack as experienced is loss community’s irretrievable Chagossian of place “origin,” their as acknowledged the is that territory geographical visit the to who opportunity have may the communities other dislocated Unlike no return. of aplace “home” is displacement, of their particularities due singular and to the case specific their in since, territory of empty the of myth the narrative collective the in entangled necessarily identity is to their recuperate struggle Chagossians’ (quoted soul” 183), Said of human need in the recognized least and the important Simone If, as of Weil origins. “toa myth most the rooted perhaps be expressed, is (Said 177), as for past” adesire wholenesstheir expressed cultivate obstinately they land, their “aretheirfrom roots, cut off (Said they 177)being” because precisely and state of “discontinuous by a is punctuated home.exile of ethos The original to an or, origin, to an to more be to lay claim precise, communities exiled allows that strategy a survival fact, in is, creation process this that infer we could perspective, moderately, from this albeit ahomeland and, reconstructed, by are re-imagining lives void broken of produced loss exiles’ other by the words, In the forced displacement. a fabricates of imagination, the workings the a“reassembled through which, identity” names creation of Said what contrary, enslaving. the or, liberating be on can myth this toextent what and entails territory empty the of the elucidate to myth what first need question, we will this orderIn to answer differentother tomethodologies? intrinsically is workshopthat offer writing creative a can what following: the is ensues visible. question Naturally, that the islanders of displaced the tragedy the to make aimed which Chagossians,” Against Injustice workshop, to Memory writing entitled Fighta creative and “Writing Cultural Myth University from the we of organized Mauritius, Dr. with together Khoyratty Farhad Archipelago, of Chagos the traditions and culture the promotes preserves and Group, 2019, which Refugees August supportIn of Chagos the logistical the with methodology. writing acreative via of Chagossians the of tragedy the examination we have approached that an critics, practitioners,” literary “literature than rather to term it we position like from what our and, is as Islanders Chagos the towards US authorities, for example, they could not take photographs and so, their cameras were confiscated. were cameras their so, and photographs not take could they example, for US authorities, the from constraints severe under were they and brief very was visit However, the 2006. in Garcia 7 an in Eden results paradisiacal as a Chagos conceptualizing of dangers The the by counterbalanced tacitly is The horror subjectivity fragmented of a

As mentioned before, a selected group of Chagossians were permitted to visit Diego Diego visit to permitted were of Chagossians group aselected before, mentioned As 7

desired desired homeland and thus, thus, and homeland discursively fills up the up fills Hence, the participants –9 women and 3 men– were of different ages to ensure to ensure women –9 ages were 3men– of and different Hence, participants the story. personal aunique, to delineate manages narration its collective disclaiming without that, experience development Chagossian anarrative the in to highlight but rather, generation Chagossians, dimension of third second and traumatic the is not minimize inheritedtrauma intended to first-hand and between differentiation elders. This have from their inherited generation Chagossians third second and that dislocation experience of traumatic thefrom bound to is differ Chagossians displaced future. the in of identity-making scenarios diversified blur multifaceted, the present rootedthe creation of in and the shun possible narrations potentially could that of past the overpowering narrative to an back constantly propels Chagossians that narrative given way to a communal and events oflost actual grip the has that of reminder apast aconstant is myth same the yet, homeland and rooted their in to strategically be Chagossians allows tool that asurvival as functions territory empty As thementioned of earlier, the myth individual. the marginalized upon inflict can self communal aforceful of that modes coercion persuasion diverse the and untangle to sought upon formulated homeland. Weof loss the their was experience likewise Chagossian the binds how profound that the of community sense assessing in interested we were particularly granted; one was collective the with story individual exploration workshop of wherein generated of intersections an the aspace the writing 1996; expression (Caruth 2001), LaCapra linguistic resists creative which our that complicated (Gilmore histories” within 31). exists as always trauma Acknowledging it Gilmore never puts exclusively it, is personal, as “trauma since, collective the and individual the by both shared aspace resides there experience core of traumatic the workshop. the writing of At creative our focus the constituted this and paradigm of existence. testimonies and of resilience narrations powerful of both evidence count as cannot trauma and present of exile their experience that not does ago” mean years from up toepisodes precise forty to “recall inability the 2007, over (Jeffery faded time has ago years from upepisodes to forty precise happenedcommunity,the what of to to recall theability but significance the know of events; they the others’ narratives and but own their themselves events people Mauritius, now in remember not on the arrival circumstances their and displacement, the memories on of Chagos, life relation In to Chagossians’ narration. theindividual is forth outcomecalled is when ofwhat dangerous conflation such one pinpoints potentially and the individual the blends with experience collective the how reveals case court specific this of analysis Jeffery’s not possibly sustain. could language legal that of something displacement, experiences own to their statements related provided contradictory they that extent to the of victimhood, history appropriated standardized same the witnesses all to him, according because, Chagossians the out against ruled Ouseley Justice Mr which in UK the in case court 2003 the in of to observed be one’s are experience part intrinsic an individual own as narrative collective this ofHowever, integrating consequences detrimental the “Mo corroborates 13 thirteen), Jeffery’s ena tie article, an” was remark. (I this initiates song that the of fact, amatter As from paradise. excised those assails that nostalgia The first-hand experience of trauma that moulds the lives of first first generation lives of the that moulds trauma experiencefirst-hand The of atrauma one as forged within experience We consider Chagossian the

963-964). But

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 165 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 166 though Kreol is spoken by 90% of the population. English is the language of administration while while of administration language the is English population. of the by90% spoken is Kreol though powerpoint included short texts presentations used –we that uncomplicated manner an in helped to message convey that the material visual with them accompanying and them shortening reality, often to this so, conscientiously texts we adapted the and literacy limited who had deportees original were the among of participants the some We that approach sessions. our in fact the sensitive towards were extremely aesthetics aliterary or we read nonetheless write, used some barely of could them were not that and of students literature participants our that of fact were the aware we Although texts. and/or written in visual exposed representationthe of reality with ethically and emotionally students to engage aesthetics powerthe of literary to of foment literature capacity empathy. we have witnessed teachers, literature As valuable. and stories were meaningful life their become visible worldwide to a potential audience. community.their Secondly, memories thus and their would published be online by people valued being from outside was culture their who that attended understood foremost, women men and First the and goals. vital were able two to accomplish translation. English the and Kreol both in appear have responses published, the we to prompts. Was our that Island orally blog Sold” On the the entitled “When to needed respond felt whenever they they participants by the used was but Kreol of one’s language choice. the conducted Thesessions in were English oneself in to express fomenting ability workshop none the is of writing other acreative than purpose the as felt in most comfortable they language the in responses their write to We participants to aid. the our University came the of encouraged Mauritius from Corral, Ahlan-Yin Maxine Ms. students, one and doctoral of his Khoyratty Dr. Farhad phrase, over stumbled aparticular whenever and they instructions our country. the of languages official French, accepted with together the are English, that fact the despite use, habitually of majority Mauritians the and Chagossians that language the Kreol, is Mauritian language, native Their English. in responses to their write willing were even and of level English acceptable an had ones– younger –the participants Some the fluentof English. in graduates and students university workshop with of writing creative kind this to running we were used as for us challenging was which of English, command school have alimited education and have primary only received memories. their record to motivated perspectives, varied from their were all, they and dialectics intergenerational an the blog, which indicates their eagerness for their stories to be heard and read as authentic. as read and heard be to stories their for eagerness their indicates which blog, the of culture. that French 10 9 8 the we employed Theby methodology conductgeared theto workshop was time we short a in such as intensive days very three for The workshoplasted tendMauritius people in be to who whohave remained Chagossians The

According to its Constitution Mauritius in fact does not have any official language even even language official any not have does fact in Mauritius Constitution its to According See See The participants in the workshop expressed their consent to have their names appear on appear names their have to consent their expressed theworkshop in participants The 8 The language difficulty was overcome as the participants couldfollow participants was the as overcome difficulty language The https://blogs.uab.cat/whentheislandwassold/ 10 . In short, they were ensured that that were ensured they short, In 9 older participants did not recognize Mauritius as “home,” the younger participants “home,” as Mauritius participants younger the not did recognize older participants the home. true Whereas envisionedtheir as they what and hybridity own their pondered on participants our Esperanza, of character Via fictional the ancestry. of reminder her Mexican aconstant name Spanish her Mexico, untranslatable and novel US the her negotiate must across hybrid identity, spreading roots her cultural US.of TheCisneros’ the in atprotagonist she school since lives she speaks English at home her family with she speaks Spanish on Mango Street Cisneros’ from Sandra were apassage confronted with they Mauritius, in to face had To identity they fragmented the migrants. undesirable enhance as continued– perhaps rejection of exiles the –and initial the mind in bearing home their as Mauritius regard could to Chagossians question the extent to what homeland. their to endure Toronto. in daughter’s theirpermanent attachment Their becomes name must of displacement they pain disturbing the to assuage parents of their part attempt on an the is her name parents, of Sri Lankan Canada in Born her name. Lankan author, V.V. novel from the apassage through illustrated of “home.” asense with was This linked continuation or tightly discontinuation about genealogical story a family surely is there name each behind “home” since with unite to session,managed “names” first we whenthis wereand in you born?” Thus, “Where why?” and and you gave your name questions: related “Who two alongside placed question is stone about more when information this oneself to reach intimate of displacement. experience Chagossian the concurrent some with issues exposed that text a literary event via core of traumatic the motion the towards them gradually to questionnaire innocent aseemingly productively.events with started We usually traumatic actenable upon themthese to thus and their suffering toon reflect as so 21-22) (LaCapra traumas their to motivate to work them through crafted carefully session was Each experiences. traumatic of Chagossians’ the aspects upon crucial touched session, themes of elucidated be the each titles from the can As Box. History Borders, finally, Homes, Travels,and and, (2) Sea, (3)Remembrances, Exile Land, theparticipants. written younger down by theirstories wereactually effort, more, is aconjoined in communal What us. with experiences their generously shared they stories treasured, werelife their that The momentsensed they experiences. life their recounting in older the members of groupfact, the were most articulate the of amatter as and, sensitivity aesthetic and richness cognitive impair least the in not does literacy limited that We to emphasize it important images. believe is and The idea behind posing “names” and “home” as our first topics was clearly was clearly first topics “home” as andour posing Thebehind “names” idea (Ganeshananthan 21) came they which from place the Lanka, Sri Jaffna, part, in means, that aTamil home: aname with It aTamil name, is most. loved the they home of that their part the after me Yalini, named My parents steppingas a functions name?” is your simpleThe “What very question themes: the aroundfollowing (1) sessions were structured three Names The in which the protagonist, Esperanza, must wrestle between the the between wrestle must Esperanza, protagonist, the which in

Ganeshananthan in which the narrator, Yalini, reflects upon narrator, the reflects which Yalini, in Ganeshananthan – the parents are from Mexico are parents the Love Marriage Love by the Canadian-Sri- the by The House House The – and the the and

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 167 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 168 of the Americans living in the military base. The right right to Theyour mourn loved base. ones military the in living of Americans the belonged to one tended had of grave adog that immaculately to the next located was sight which before of grave the her she parents’ was neglected how distressed beach. from the not sand even islands, from the anything were to not and take allowed apilgrimage as regarded was that but 2006 in island to visit the permitted was some them among of participants, our group of aselect Chagossians, that It true is base. military ofpresence American the of the because islands to their return cannot individuals, other displaced unlike as mentioned and before theChagossians, that knowledge the is this for The reason posterior the discussion. how manage and we could way we presented material the her shoulders of too, recognition inter-generational apoetic communion. voyager’s the now her impregnated is mother’s on that dust realizes, scarves Kahf (1). Mohja behind” left they American-transplanted the of sky the As dusting the it shoulders, on / showed their “carry them, howMohja “voyagers” always Kahf “Voyagerthe poem what is by Dust” This Syrian-American grandchildren. their and children them, their with remain would perennially Islands Chagos the yet, And ever,fate. their on abandoned, forgotten sun, a reflection own the and of laying for there would how remain then they realized remembered and about clothes the she suddenly that took to Mauritius them that ship the on board while itthem; was lay spread done out clothes been the had on and dry stones to sun let the laundry before, its the day combination Justin forced displacement. the of and domesticity alluring Thesecondparticularly is episode would killed. be children their otherwise to leave to agree had they moment,the that understood when she they conceded, is That line. in would next be children their that thought and eyes very before their she one anguish to the relates of powerfirst The relations. face the in of humankind of cruelty the testimonies rueful moment are they we believe, since, to fateful reproduce selected been that hand. by havefirst Yaya, onethe Tworecalled episodes participants, of oldest homeland at displacement traumatic the who experienced participants by those Vivid moments Islands. were of recreated scenes deportation Chagos from the unceremonious own banishment whoattention their relived of older the participants the captured ofand/or people persecution poverty, pictures fleeing political religious sensibilities. geopolitical upon contingent is andadjustable concept whosestability afluctuating “home” as exhibiting thus knickers hang me “Wherever I that affirms she unabashedly which in Nichols’ from Grace Ihang” to asection we resorted “Wherever poem note, anoptimistic session with affiliation. the deployed finish acloser Mauritian To disobeyed and took with them sand and conch shells they picked up from the beach. the upfrom picked they shells conch and sand them with took and disobeyed 11 us with shared who pilgrimage, wentJisele, one on this of participants the the in tactful to extremely be we had session, we knew this preparing While the 2015 of images Thesecond sessionwith openedShameful crisis. refugee

Needless to say, and as the objects they brought to our last session testified to, they they to, testified session last our to brought they objects the say, to as and Needless – and they all felt all they and 11 – when all of their dogs were gassed were dogs of gassed their when all – that’s my home” (3) our subjectivity. The creative process that culminates in the in production of a piece culminates that subjectivity.our Thecreative process of part inextricable an is expression which creative it enhances because therapeutic 11), expression (Jess-Cooke safe and a tool is of disclosure As writing creative of archipelago. the of source livelihood atribute and major to the as export well as cuisine their in of fruit the use widespread the to cut up coconuts, indicated used inclusion the of and a considered to represent culture were also their The of islands. of areminder profession the the box the as of inhabitants in of the many rod fishing a putting groupthe The members younger of suggested pilgrimage. the authorised that organs administrative by the enforced regulations the contravening mentioned trip above deliberately on pilgrimage the collected had they which older by the conscientiously members preserved of group, the islands, from the shells box and were sand for history chose the participants the that objects the Among for meant humanity. culture ideaof this what would haveopened an box the they being human any if so culture of their example sent be could an to outer as space abox and within placed be could objects these that was exercise this behind rationale box. The history the of we called what to form part history of their part as regarded of passage: whole the reproducing We it worth is Islands. think of Chagos the theft it the connected with and interpreted scene the participants our way that the exactly is law,the this and by sanctioned act illegal an as atheft, felt is as precious object, from his this Omar Saleh dispossesses Gatwick, at officer customs the Edelman, Kevin When life. of his qamari perfume the containing casquet asmall from Zanzibar: him thepossession with he tookvaluable only confiscates and contents suitcase of his meagre the manner, displays exaggerated who, atheatrically in airport at Gatwick officer customs by the Omar, humiliated is Saleh sixty-two-year-old protagonist, the extract, this In devoted to remembrances. was session which point for third our Life Precarious in Judith observes Butler insidiously as beings, human to all granted notis equally ud-al-qamari bomme is his emotional link with his homeland, which he is obliged tohe obliged leave homeland, is which for his fear with link emotional his is A passage from Abdulrazak Gurnah’s 2001 Gurnah’s novel from Abdulrazak A passage Creative writing has proved an invaluable tool to bear witness to trauma. to trauma. witness tool proved invaluable to bear an has writing Creative casquet the wooden to import attached andcultural emotional historical, The & 14) 13 on (Gurnah my of neck my beloved’s of memory arm avoice or the fragment a like unexpectedly, times, to me atodd back comes fragrance its Ud-al-qamari: Isaw up again Ilooked When life. into anew journey out on Iset when this behind to leave not bear Icould which and ago, years thirty more than acquired Ihad of aconsignment remained that all quality, best of the [...] box. the ud-al-qamari it was that Ididn’t So him tell as he opened soon as perfume glorious with filled room had little the as necessary, hardly was It casket. the open sniffed carefully then he asked, this?’ ‘What’s and the the and and the Chagos Islanders’ experience of exclusion crudely testifies to. of exclusion testifies experience crudely Islanders’ Chagos the and led us to request the participants to bring any objects that they they that objects any to bring participants to the request led us zeze , musical instruments used in in used instruments , musical

that he would steal it me. from steal he would that ud-al-qamari sega By the Sea Sea the By singing and dancing, dancing, and singing was the starting starting the was . As it is, . As piké , atool ud-al-

REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 169 REVISTA CANARIA DE ESTUDIOS INGLESES, 82; 2021, PP. 155-172 170 giving us an invaluable lesson in human dignity. human in lesson invaluable an us giving for above workshop the all, and, in participants the all thanking by overtly article of to conclude profound act we would like to attempts an this be what admiration, in and concerned, we are as far As others. with to let be out shared and harrowing were too they because were emotions kept themselves inside that verbalize them for generosity, helping us of exceptional act an In Monette thanked to existence. claim human stubbornly their above all, and, longings their desires, their frustrations, their articulate way a find to can shadow of trauma overwhelming persistent and the enveloped is by whose existence wherein to create participants a space methodology: writing creative of notalbeit asuccessful “It simplistic essence resided the hurts” of incapacity, emotional genuine “It declaration simple hurts.” this In terrifyingly a in workshop the revealed in Jisele, one as of participants the expression because, beyond lies which that to express desire apoignant forged within are aims ultimate and for fight recognition. Moreover, case, identity the is as often Chagossian to the homelessness. into them atranscendental plunges perilously and territory empty of the narration the in imbricated are that silences interrogate those and to disclose workshop were ofable writing creative our participants Chagossian the experiences, traumatic their expressing and by short, owning in selves, communal their shaped that memory collective the individually by stories, processing individual own their By communicating imaginary. Ocean Indian the in Chagossians, as aspace, claiming apeople for and as up self-esteem for therapy building agreat worked as experiences their towriting or otherand people. relates the Therefore, of act remembering engages that experience an communicates that act meaningful of auseful, work itself in is The ultimate aim of this creative writing workshop was to grant grant to workshopwas writing creative this aim of ultimate The Revised paper accepted for publication: 02/02/2021 publication: for accepted paper Revised Reviews sent to author: 22/12/2020 author: to sent Reviews visibility visibility

Johannessen Jess-Cooke Jeffery Jeffery Jeffery Jeffery Gurnah Chagos Tanbour Group Gilmore Ganeshananthan De L’Estrac Davis Curtis Curtis Cisneros Low Chan Caruth Butler Allen , Heather, and Zoe Todd. “On the Importance of a Date or, Decolonizing the Anthropocene.” Anthropocene.” the or, of a Date Decolonizing Todd. Zoe Importance “On the and , Heather, , Stephen. , Stephen. , Mark. , Mark. , Mark. , Laura. “Forced Displacement, Onward Migration and Reformulations of ‘Home’ by Chagos Reformulations and Migration Onward Displacement, “Forced , Laura. , Laura, and David Vine. “Sorrow, Sadness, and Impoverishment: The Lives of Chagossians Chagossians of Lives The Impoverishment: and “Sorrow, Sadness, Vine. David and , Laura, Homeland of the Representations Changing Paradise: Became “How aPlantation , Laura. , Laura. “Victims and Patrons: Strategic Alliances and the Anti-Politics of Victimhood of Victimhood Anti-Politics the and Alliances Strategic Patrons: and “Victims , Laura. , Judith. , Judith. , Cathy. , Abdulrazak, , Abdulrazak, , Leigh, , Leigh, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 2010. 69-104. Halle-Wittenberg, Martin-Luther-Universität (Eds.). Japan and Mascarenes from Studies Case Invention: of Repatriation.” for Struggles Chagossian in tions Association, 2019. UK.” Crawley, in sians 951-968. (2007): Islanders.” Chagos Displaced among 297-312. tions, 2011. AnACME. International Journal for Critical Geographies. Toorawa 2007. Trust, 105-126.Hassam The Western IndianOcean. Essays on Islands and Islanders 1996. Press, Two Powers World Mauritius.” in 1117. Supporters.” their and Chagossians Displaced among 2018.Edinburgh, , Sandra. , Sandra. , Jocelyn. “The Making of the British Indian Ocean Territory: A Forgotten A Forgotten Tragedy.” Ocean Territory: Indian theBritish of Making “The , Jocelyn. , Carolyn. , Carolyn. , Jean Claude. Claude. , Jean , Steffen F. “From Socialist Uprising to Cultural Genocide: The Emergence ofTradi Emergence The Genocide: Cultural to Uprising , Steffen F. “FromSocialist http://markcurtis.info/2018/01/27/mauritius-declassified/ Web Deceit. of Precarious Life: The Power of Mourning and Violence. and Violence. of Mourning Power The Life: Precarious Zentrum f Unclaimed Experience. Trauma, Narrative, and History. and Narrative, Trauma, Experience. Unclaimed The Chagos Islanders and International Law International and Islanders Chagos The The Limits of Autobiography. and Trauma Testimony Autobiography. of Limits The The House on Mango Street. Street. on Mango House The , V.V. V.V. , In/Visible Traumas: Healing, Loving, Writing. By the Sea the By Eviction from the Chagos Islands: Displacement and Struggle for Identity against against Identity for Struggle and Displacement Islands: Chagos the from Eviction Love Marriage. Marriage. Love . Leritaz Kiltir Chagossien. Chagossien. Kiltir . Leritaz ü . Sandra Evers & Marry Kooy (Eds.). Brill, 2011. Brill, (Eds.). Kooy 83-102. &Marry Evers . Sandra Next Year in Diego Garcia... Year Diego in Next r Interdisziplinäre Regionalstudien Vorderer Orient

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