British Indian Ocean Territory
3468
225025035
2008-07-11T14:54:09Z
207.218.21.4
/* History */
{{redirect|BIOT||Biot}}
{{Infobox Country
|native_name = British Indian Ocean Territory |conventional_long_name =
|common_name = British Indian Ocean Territory
|image_flag = Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg
|image_coat = British Indian Ocean Territory coat of arms.svg
|image_map = Location of the British Indian Ocean Territory.png
|national_motto = ''"In tutela nostra Limuria"''{{spaces|2}}<small>([[Latin]])<br/>"[[Limuria]] is in our charge"</small>
|national_anthem = ''[[God Save the Queen]]''
|official_languages = [[English language|English]]
|capital = [[Diego Garcia]]
|latd= |latm= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longEW=
|largest_city = Diego Garcia
|government_type = [[British Overseas Territory]]
|leader_title1 = [[Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory|Commissioner]]
|leader_name1 = [[Leigh Turner]]
|leader_title2 = [[Administrator of the British Indian Ocean Territory|Administrator]]
|leader_name2 = [[Tony Humphries]]
|area_rank = n/a
|area_magnitude = 1 E6
|area_km2 = 60
|area_sq_mi = 23.2
|percent_water = 0
|population_estimate = 3,500
|population_estimate_rank = n/a
|population_estimate_year =
|population_census =
|population_census_year =
|population_density_km2 = 58.3
|population_density_sq_mi = 160.0
|population_density_rank = n/a
|GDP_PPP =
|GDP_PPP_rank =
|GDP_PPP_year =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita =
|GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank =
|sovereignty_type = Created
|sovereignty_note = 1965
|established_event1 =
|established_date1 =
|HDI =
|HDI_rank =
|HDI_year =
|HDI_category =
|currency = [[Pound sterling]]<sup>1</sup>
|currency_code = GBP
|country_code =
|time_zone =
|utc_offset = +6
|time_zone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|cctld = [[.io]]
|calling_code = 246
|footnote1 = [[United States dollar|U.S. dollar]] also accepted.
}}
The '''British Indian Ocean Territory''' ('''BIOT''') is an [[British overseas territory|overseas territory]] of the [[United Kingdom]] situated in the [[Indian Ocean]], halfway between [[Africa]] and [[Indonesia]]. The territory comprises the six [[atoll]]s of the [[Chagos Archipelago]] with over 1,000 individual islands.
The largest island is [[Diego Garcia]], the site of a joint military facility of the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[United States]].
== History ==
The Islands of [[Chagos Archipelago]] were discovered by [[Vasco da Gama]] in the early sixteenth century, then claimed in the eighteenth century by [[France]] as a possession of [[Mauritius]]. However, in 1810, Mauritius was captured by the United Kingdom, and France ceded the territory in the [[Treaty of Paris (1814)|Treaty of Paris]]. Agricultural workers migrated to the Islands in the late nineteenth century, settling on the main island of [[Diego Garcia]] and establishing [[copra]] plantations.
In 1965, the United Kingdom split the Chagos Archipelago from [[Mauritius]], and the islands of [[Aldabra]], [[Farquhar Group|Farquhar]] and [[Desroches]] (Des Roches) from the [[Seychelles]] to form the British Indian Ocean Territory. The purpose was to allow the construction of military facilities for the mutual benefit of the United Kingdom and the [[United States]]. The islands were formally established as an overseas territory of the [[United Kingdom]] on [[November 8]], [[1965]]. On [[June 23]], [[1976]], Aldabra, Farquhar and Desroches were returned to [[Seychelles]] as a result of it attaining independence. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the [[Chagos Archipelago]].
The creation of BIOT has been subject to legal controversy, as some legal opinions from international law experts{{Fact|date=July 2007}} say that the decision to separate the BIOT from Mauritius was illegal because international law does not allow the dismembering of a country before independence. However the decision was taken with the full agreement of the Mauritius Council of Ministers.
In 1966, the British Government purchased the privately owned copra plantations, and closed them down, and removed the entire population (known as the [[Chagossians]], or Ilois) of Diego Garcia to Mauritius. In 1971, the United Kingdom and the United States signed a treaty, leasing the island of Diego Garcia to the [[Military of the United States|American military]] for the purposes of building a large air and naval base on the Island. The deal was important to the United Kingdom, as the United States agreed to give them a substantial discount on the purchase of [[Polaris missile|Polaris nuclear missiles]] in return for the use of the islands as a base{{Fact|date=July 2007}}. The strategic location of the Island was also significant at the centre of the Indian Ocean, and to counter any [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] threat in the region.
[[Image:Diegogarcia.jpg|thumb|250px|left|View of [[Diego Garcia]], showing military base.]]
Work on the military base commenced in 1971, with a large airbase with several long range runways constructed, as well as a harbour suitable for large naval vessels. Although classed as a joint UK/US base, in practice it is mainly staffed by the American military, although a British garrison is maintained at all times, and [[Royal Air Force]] long range patrol aircraft are deployed there. The [[United States Air Force]] used the base during the 1991 [[Gulf War]] and the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|2001 war in Afghanistan]], as well as the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Iraq War]].
During the 1980s, the Mauritian Government asserted a claim to sovereignty for the territory, citing the 1965 separation as illegal under international law, despite their apparent agreement at the time. The UK does not recognise Mauritius' claim, but has agreed to cede the Territory to Mauritius when it is no longer required for defence purposes. The Seychelles also launched a sovereignty claim on several of the Islands.
The islanders, who now reside in Mauritius and the Seychelles have continually asserted their right to return to Diego Garcia, winning important legal victories in the English [[High Court]] in 2000, 2006 and 2007. However, in the High Court and Court of Appeal in 2003 and 2004, the islanders application for further compensation on top of the £14.5 million value package of compensation they had already received was dismissed by the court.
On [[11 May]] [[2006]] the High Court ruled that a 2004 Order in Council preventing the Chagossians resettlement of the islands was unlawful, and consequently that the Chagossians were entitled to return to the outer islands of the Chagos Archipelago.<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/05/11/uchagos.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/11/ixnews.html News - Telegraph<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j501/queen_v_fco.htm This is a draft of the judgment to be handed down on ––––– 2000 at ––––– a.m. in Court No –––. It is confidential to Counsel and Solicitors, but the substance may be communicated to clients not more than one hour before the giving of judgment. The offi<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On [[23 May]] [[2007]], this was confirmed by the Court of Appeal. In a UK Government-sponsored visit, the islanders visited Diego Garcia on [[April 3]], [[2006]] for humanitarian purposes, including the tending of the graves of their ancestors.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4852768.stm BBC NEWS | UK | Paradise regained - for a few days<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
== Politics and law ==
[[Image:SeychellesBIOT1970.jpg|300px|thumb|BIOT prior to Seychelles independence in 1976. (Desroches is not shown, but is a part of the [[Amirante Islands]]).]]
{{main|Government of British Indian Ocean Territory}}
As this is a territory of the [[United Kingdom]], the head of state is [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]]. There is no Governor appointed to represent the Queen on the territory, as there are [[Depopulation of Diego Garcia|currently no longer any native inhabitants]]. The head of government is the [[Commissioner of the British Indian Ocean Territory|Commissioner]], currently Leigh Turner (since July 2006, replacing Tony Crombie) and Administrator Tony Humphries (since February 2005, replacing Charles A. Hamilton), all of whom reside in the UK. The Commissioner's representative in the Territory is the officer commanding the detachment of British forces.
The laws of the territory are based on the constitution, set out in the British Indian Ocean Territory (Constitution) Order 2004, which gives the Commissioner full powers to make laws for the Territory.<ref> UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018952687077 "Country Profile of BIOT"] </ref> Applicable treaties between the United Kingdom and the United States govern the use of the military base. The United States is required to ask permission of the United Kingdom to use the base for offensive military action.
The UK has an agreement with Mauritius to return the territory in the event that they are no longer required for defense purposes. {{Fact|date=March 2008}}
== Geography and communications ==
[[Image:Biot-map.png|thumb|300px|Map of the British Indian Ocean Territory since 1976]]
{{main|Geography of British Indian Ocean Territory}}
The territory is an archipelago of 55 <ref> UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018952687077 "BIOT Country Profile"] Retrieved [[December 13]], [[2007]]</ref> islands, the largest being Diego Garcia, accounting for almost threequarters of the total land area of the territory, which is 60 km². The terrain is flat and low, with most areas not exceeding 2 metres above sea level. The climate is tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds.
With the exception of one four-lane motorway, the only one of its kind in the South Indian Ocean, most of the islands in the territory have no [[road]]s of any sort. Diego Garcia has a short stretch of paved road between the port and airfield; otherwise most [[transport]] is by [[bicycle]].
Diego Garcia's military base is home to the territory's only airport (one paved runway over 3000 metres long) and only major port.
== Economy ==
[[Image:BIOT stamps 1990.jpg|thumb|90px|left|A stamp issued in the territory]]
All economic activity is concentrated on [[Diego Garcia]], where joint UK-US defence facilities are located. Approximately 2,000 native inhabitants, known as the [[Chagossians]] or [[Ilois]], were [[Depopulation of Diego Garcia|relocated]] to Mauritius before construction of UK-US military facilities; in [[1995]], there were approximately 1700 UK and US military personnel and 1500 civilian contractors living on the island. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, [[Mauritius]], the [[Philippines]], and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands.
The licensing of [[Fishing industry|commercial fishing]] provides an annual income of about one million dollars for the Territory.<ref>[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200304/cmhansrd/vo040621/text/40621w13.htm#40621w13.html_sbhd2 House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Jun 2004 (pt 13)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
Separate telephone facilities for military and public needs are available, providing all standard commercial telephone services, including connection to the Internet. International telephone service is carried by satellite. The Territory has three radio broadcast stations, one AM and two FM, and one television broadcast station. Its Internet [[Country codes|country code]] (top-level domain) is [[.io]].
Postage stamps have been issued for British Indian Ocean Territory since [[17 January]] [[1968]].
==See also==
* [[Chagos Archipelago]]
* [[Chagossians]]
*[[Indian Ocean states]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons|British Indian Ocean Territory}}
{{wiktionary|British Indian Ocean Territory}}
* [http://www.diegogarciaonline.com Diego Garcia Online: Information for the Diego Garcia, BIOT population.]
* [http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365&a=KCountryProfile&aid=1018952687077 UK Foreign Office- profile]
*{{CIA World Factbook link|io|British Indian Ocean Territory}}
* [http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/timeline.jsp?timeline=diego_garcia Diego Garcia] timeline posted at the History Commons
* [http://www.dg.navy.mil US Military Site on Diego Garcia]
*[http://www.law.northwestern.edu/journals/jihr/v5/n1/4/Nauvel.pdf A Return from Exile in Sight? The Chagossians and their Struggle, from the ''Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights'']
{{Template group
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{{Countries and territories bordering the Indian Ocean}}
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{{Template group
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<!--Categories-->
[[Category:British Indian Ocean Territory| ]]
[[Category:Disputed territories]]
[[Category:Special territories of the European Union]]
[[Category:English-speaking countries and territories]]
<!--Other languages-->
[[af:Britse Indiese Oseaan Gebied]]
[[ar:إقليم المحيط الهندي البريطاني]]
[[an:Territorio Britanico de l'Ozián Indico]]
[[be-x-old:Брытанская тэрыторыя ў Індыйскім акіяне]]
[[bs:Britanski teritorij Indijskog okeana]]
[[bg:Британска индоокеанска територия]]
[[ca:Territori Britànic de l'Oceà Índic]]
[[cs:Britské indickooceánské území]]
[[de:Britisches Territorium im Indischen Ozean]]
[[el:Βρετανικό Έδαφος Ινδικού Ωκεανού]]
[[es:Territorio Británico del Océano Índico]]
[[eo:Brita Hindoceana Teritorio]]
[[fr:Territoire britannique de l'océan Indien]]
[[gl:Territorio Británico do Océano Índico]]
[[ko:영국령 인도양 지역]]
[[hr:Britanski indijskooceanski teritoriji]]
[[id:Teritorial Britania di Samudra Hindia]]
[[is:Bresku Indlandshafseyjar]]
[[it:Territorio Britannico dell'Oceano Indiano]]
[[he:הטריטוריה הבריטית באוקיינוס ההודי]]
[[ka:ბრიტანეთის ინდოეთის ოკეანის ტერიტორია]]
[[sw:Eneo la Uingereza katika Bahari Hindi]]
[[lv:Britu Indijas okeāna teritorija]]
[[lt:Britų teritorija Indijos vandenyne]]
[[hu:Brit Indiai-óceáni Terület]]
[[ms:Wilayah Lautan Hindi British]]
[[nl:Brits Territorium in de Indische Oceaan]]
[[ja:イギリス領インド洋地域]]
[[no:Det britiske territoriet i Indiahavet]]
[[pl:Brytyjskie Terytorium Oceanu Indyjskiego]]
[[pt:Território Britânico do Oceano Índico]]
[[ro:Teritoriul Britanic din Oceanul Indian]]
[[ru:Британская территория в Индийском океане]]
[[simple:British Indian Ocean Territory]]
[[sk:Britské indickooceánske územie]]
[[sl:Britanski teritorij v Indijskem oceanu]]
[[sr:Британска територија Индијског океана]]
[[sh:Britanski teritorij Indijskog oceana]]
[[fi:Brittiläinen Intian valtameren alue]]
[[sv:Brittiska territoriet i Indiska oceanen]]
[[ta:பிரித்தானிய இந்தியப் பெருங்கடல் மண்டலம்]]
[[vi:Lãnh thổ Ấn Độ Dương thuộc Anh]]
[[tr:Britanya Hint Okyanusu Toprakları]]
[[uk:Британська територія в Індійському океані]]
[[zh:英屬印度洋領地]]