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Its with great sadness that we have learnt the death of Simon David Vincatassin (Committee Member of the Diego Garcian Society), the uncle and one of the Generals of our leader Allen Vincatassin, who passed away yesterday evening at his home in Crawley in the UK.
 Here in the middle with Committee Members
Simon Vincatassin was born on Diego Garcia, and was a supporter of his late Father Michel Vincatassin who sued Her Majesty's Government in 1975 for evicting the Diego Garcians and other Chagos islanders from their homeland in the late 60's. Simon was a good campaigner of the cause, and he was elected by the community to be amongst the first representatives of the islanders on the Ilois Trust Fund in 1982/83, in Mauritius. He resigned from the board as a protest because he refused to resign his rights of return to the islands as a prerequisite to compensation. Simon has been one of the main campaigners for a resettlement of our community in the UK.
'Simon has been my main adviser for a decade, and he has been like a rock for me in times when I had to take great decisions for our community. He was loyal and has never failed me or his community. Today I have not only lost an Uncle but a rock and a General. My heart and deepest sympathy goes to my Aunt and Cousins who mourns at this time.' said Allen Vincatassin
There was a tribute to Simon yesterday evening at the first screening of the film EXILED which was attended by a large crowd in the presence of the Mayor of Crawley and various representatives of local, national and international organisations, as he passed away about an hour before the screening.
The crowd in the studio was in a state of shock. The atmosphere of the studio was emotional when people saw him on the screen talking about the various campaigns and the dark times in our history.
' He was my favourite interviewee because he makes you flow in his story. he was the only guy who could say that he did not renounce his rights of return to his homeland' said Dan (The film Director)
'It was meant to be this way', said a member of the public.
The funeral date will be communicated in the following hours.
BREAKING NEWS
The Life stories of Diego Garcians being screened in the UK.
Breaking News Allen Vincatassin and committee members cheering on the announcementOn the 1st of April 2010, the Foreign Secretary announced that he has instructed the Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory to establish the Marine protected Area, and to ban commercial fishing in Chagos.
'We are delighted that the UK Government have made this decision, the majority of our members and other islanders in Crawley and Mauritius, voted in favour of the establishment of the MPA. Our work in conservation takes a new dimension with our partners the Chagos Conservation Trust and the Coral Cay Conservation, as we send two members of the community in a Coral Protection and Community work Scholarship.' said Allen Vincatassin
Foreign Secretary visit core members of our Society in Crawley Historic hand shake as Allen Vincatassin receives the Foreign Secretary David Miliband in Crawley this morning(04.03.10), in the UK  The visit of David Miliband in Crawley to meet with Allen Vincatassin and core members of the Diego Garcian Society has been an historic moment, as he is the first Foreign Secretary to visit our people, in our entire history.This has been the initiative of Laura Moffatt MP, who is very supportive of this cause. Allen Vincatassin has submitted his report which is addressed to the Foreign Secretary, which is titled Diego Garcia, the way forward. The authour has talked about the content of his report in a formidable way, with an audience which was composed of core community members of our society, members of the Chagos Conservation Network, Crawley Ethnic Minority Partnership, Road to Crawley Project and other partners A llen Vincatassin has appealed to David Miliband on various issues facing the Diego Garcians and other Chagossian Communities. He has also expressed that the Diego Garcians in the UK and their families who are still in Mauritius do not recognised Mauritian Sovereignty over their homeland, and that they want to remain British.He also explained to the Foreign Secretary that our community has been marginalised and considered as second class citizen, and that its high time for the Diego Garcians to decide for their future. Mr. Vincatassin has also explained the partnership working with members of the Chagos Conservation Network, which has paved way for two scholarships for members of the community in Coral Conservation.On the question of British Citizenship for second and third generations, he has asked our MP to open discussion with the Home Secretary Alan Johnson.
Mr. Vincatassin has explained to David Miliband about the wish of the Diego Garcian people to get into their democratic process, to form an administration in waiting, that will work hand in hand with the Government of the British Indian Ocean Territory Government and the Government of the UK, to work in partnership on various projects, the rights and the future of the Diego Garcians.
Mr. Vincatassin has also given the results of the opinion of the Diego Garcians and other Chagossian communities. More than 170 family members voted in favour of the MPA for the benefit of the people, against the benefit of the State of Mauritius, while there have been about 50 votes in favour also from the islanders in Mauritius.
The Foreign Secretary said that what happen in the 60's was not partnership.
The Foreign Secretary have commended our community for getting ourselves organised, and he agreed with Mr Vincatassin to work in partnership in various key areas. He also endorse the decision of the Diego Garcians on their democratic process.
' You need to speak for yourself ', said the Foreign Secretary
'The Visits that we are organising are not to be a pretense, but are a real act of goodwill on behalf of the Government', he added
Diego Garcia, the way forward, is available in the Souvenir Store.
Breaking News
Allen Vincatassin is to present his report 'DIEGO GARCIA, the way forward' in the beginning of March.
'A report by a Diego Garcian native that will go in history for the first time,' Diego Garcian Society
Diego Garcian Society is organising its own consultation for the Diego Garcian and Chagossian Communities in the UK and overseas, and communicating with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on the Marine Park project.
Deputy leader of DGS casting out his opinion in the ballot box
Scholarship
Application open for members of the Diego Garcian Society and their family members in the UK, for two places on Coral reef conservation scholarship . Get your application form from our office. Closing date 31.03.2010.
The leader of the Diego Garcian People Allen Vincatassin, will lead six of his compatriots to Diego Garcia on the 20th of January 2010. The visit is funded by the British Indian Ocean Territory Government in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
The Bon Voyage Ceremony will be held at the Hawth Theatre in Crawley on Sunday the 17th of January at 6.00pm, with Laura Moffatt MP as guest of honour.
OVERSEAS TERRITORIES MINISTER GILLIAN MERRON MP VISITS THE ISLANDERS IN CRAWLEY TODAY THE 12th OF FEBRUARY 2009
  The new Overseas Territories Minister, Gillian Merron MP met with the Community leader Allen Vincatassin, this morning in Crawley. Allen has submitted a memorandum to her for urgent consideration regarding certain issues such as British Citizenship laws, spouse visa, the future of the Diego Garcians descendants on Diego Garcia and on projects that will benefit the community. The Minister met with members of the group that went on a visit to Diego Garcia, Eagle island, Peros Banhos and Salomon island, and has seen a presentation on the visit.
'I am delighted that the Minister came to see us and its for the first time we received such a visitor from the Government. Gillian Merron has said that some behaviour in the past in our removal was wrong and that the Government of today is dealing with this matter, in the reality of today, and that we need to move forward. She has said that she represents us and is our Minister. I am grateful to our local MP Laura Moffatt, who has worked hard for the visit to become a reality and I am sure that we can make more progress.' said Allen Vincatassin
The meeting was attended by members of the community, various local organisations(partners of our Society), and the media.
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