Legal victory for Chagos islanders

Families exiled from the Chagos islands by the British government have won the right to return in the High Court.

The families were exiled from the Indian Ocean islands in the mid-1960s and early 1970s so that the US could build a military air base on one of the islands, Diego Garcia.

The British government had introduced measures, under the Royal Prerogative, to prevent the families from returning.

However, the decision was overturned by two judges at the High Court.

Sir Sydney Kentridge, QC, described the treatment of the islanders as "outrageous:" and "a breach of accepted moral standards."

The solicitor for the islanders, Richard Gifford, said: "The British government has been defeated in its attempt to abolish the right of abode of the islanders after first deporting them in secret 30 years ago."

Around 2,000 residents were moved off the Chagos islands between 1965 and 1973 when Britain leased the island to the US to use as a military base.

The expulsions were ruled as illegal in 2000, but the islanders' return was stopped in 2004 by government order.

(KMcA)