Islanders win right to return home

Families expelled from the Chagos Islands by the British Government have won their legal battle to return home.

They were moved to make way for the Diego Garcia US airbase 30 years ago.

The Court of Appeal ruling condemned Government tactics stopping their return as unlawful and an abuse of power.

Three judges refused a stay on the effect of their judgment, allowing the islanders to return to their Indian Ocean homes immediately.

The only island they will not be able to resettle under original High Court orders allowing their return, will be Diego Garcia itself.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, who took the case to the Court of Appeal after two High Court judges had found for the Chagossians, will now have to show "good cause" if she wants the appeal judges to order a stay.

The Government was also refused permission to take the case to the House of Lords but is expected to petition the Law Lords directly, seeking a final challenge at the highest court in the land.

Richard Gifford, the solicitor for the islanders, said: "This is now the third time that Olivier Bancoult, the leader of the Chagossian Community in exile, has proved to the satisfaction of English judges that nothing can separate his compatriots from their homeland.

"They now call upon the British Government for a new start in this abusive relationship and to proceed with the utmost urgency to restore these loyal British subjects to their homeland."

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