Exiled islanders take fight to Europe

Diego Garcia was taken over for a military base in the 1970s

Representatives of a group of exiled Indian Ocean islanders have met with Euro MPs in an effort to fund their repatriation.

Last week the group from Diego Garcia, who had been temporarily housed in a hotel in Crawley, West Sussex, lost their compensation claim in the High Court.

Now they have met with the MEPs about the possibility of getting financial help from the European Development Fund which, they claim, can be used for the re-settlement of refugees.

The islanders were exiled from their home in the 1970s when it was taken over by the British government for a British and American military base.

They say they have endured poverty and prejudice while in exile and have taken legal action against the UK government.

'We want a boat'

The islanders, who all hold British passports, wanted to stay in Crawley after they arrived in Britain in July.

West Sussex County Council was ordered by the courts to pay for hotel accommodation in Crawley, but now the money has run out.

Gabriel Valentin, one of the islanders, said: "We want a boat, we want a flight.

"We want to return to our island - that is what we want to do."