Chagos Islanders sue

Unsatisfied with a December 2000 ruling that they could return to a cluster of outer islands of the Chagos group, as lack of infrastructure makes life there impossible, the near-5,000 islanders, evicted from the main island and subsidiary island group more than 30 years ago to make way for a US military base, have launched action in the High Court against the British government. Failing an adequate return programme to the whole area of the Indian Ocean, they seek damages for the problems they have endured since 1967.