Paradise found for evicted islanders

The Chagos islanders may have won an important victory yesterday against their British colonial masters in the long legal battle to return to their tropical paradise.

But they still face a formidable obstacle in the form of the Pentagon, which will use its considerable muscle to keep all civilians away from its strategic military base on Diego Garcia, the largest island in the Chagos archipelago.

Under an agreement signed in 1966, America leased Diego Garcia from Britain for 50 years and began developing the island into a air and naval facility. A secret “exchange of notes” also provided for the indigenous population to be removed.

The result is a unique military outpost. Set in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean with long white beaches and palm trees, Diego Garcia is home to nearly 4,000 American military and civilian personnel and some of the most lethal weaponry in the US armoury. The nearest locals are 1,000 miles away.

B-52 bombers, the mainstay of the US Air Force during the Cold War, line the apron alongside the 12,000-foot runway. Recently the Americans added four hangers for B-2 Stealth bombers, their only deployment outside mainland America.

During the Afghan campaign against the Taleban in 2001, more bombs were dropped from aircraft based on Diego Garcia than any other American facility. Similarly, the bombers went into action again against Iraq in 2003. If, as some fear, a new conflict breaks out against Iran, Diego Garcia would almost certainly be at the forefront of operations.

In addition to aircraft, the Pentagon has prepositioned freighters packed with military hardware capable of equipping an expeditionary force anywhere in the region in a matter of days. Diego Garcia is also used for resupplying nuclear submarines and warships.

While America remains silent on the battle taking place in London’s High Court, behind the scenes it is putting huge pressure on the British government not to back down in the case.

It regards the issue as a major test of Britain’s loyalty. The problem will almost certainly land of Gordon Brown’s desk soon after he takes over at Downing Street next month.