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Location map of Diego Garcia

Overhead view of Diego Garcia, looking south

'Diego Garcia' () is an atoll located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) south off Colombo, Sri Lanka's southern coast. Diego Garcia is the largest atoll by land area of the Chagos Archipelago. It is part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), a British overseas territory.
Since the enforced depopulation of Diego Garcia in the years leading up to 1973, it has been used as a military base by the United States and the United Kingdom. Diego Garcia hosts one of three ground antennas (others are on Kwajalein and Ascension Island) that assist in the operation of the Global Positioning System (GPS) navigational system. GEODSS that tracks satellites optically along with the other GEODSS sites at White Sands Missle Range and on top of Mt. Kilauea in Hawaii. The Scripps Institute maintains Project IDA/IRIS sesmic montitors used there to correlate worldwide sesmic events for locating and underground nuclear testing for the US Govenment. Project ECHELON is also hosted there to provide worldwide reception of electronic signals. SNOOPY planes out of Offut AFB in Omaha regularly stop there as they skirted foreign countries intercepting SIGNET from their borders. The Anotonov-225 jet flys there providing cargo heavy lift for the island. B-1's from Ellsworth AFB still launch daily from there for OIF and OEF, as well as B-2's, and formerly B-52's were launched from there against Iraq during the Gulf War. To this day Navy P-3 Orion Subhunters operate out of there. The Navy Submarine Warfare Center is located there. The island is outfitted with sonophone microphones capable of detecting ship Screws turning 5000 miles away. The SR-71 Blackbird flew out of BIOT during the Cold War. The island's shape (similar to that of a human footprint) has led the US Navy to refer to Diego Garcia as "The Footprint of Freedom." You must have a US security clearance to even visit the island. Flights are provided by AMC out of Paya Lebar AB in Singapore.
The atoll is now covered in luxuriant Scabie plants, tropical Orchids, millions of palm trees used for the former copra coconut oil production for lamps. The coconut plantation is left untouched on a fenced off portion of the island near the GEODSS complex. The island is a British Nature Conservancy with heavy fines of US $1700 for harming feral species. But that does not stop the GEODSS crews from seeing who can smash the most coconut crabs or rats with the van on the 18 miles drive out to work. At night Coconut Crabs have even been harvested and ate at the GEODSS facility for a once in a lifetime culinary event. I know of 67 that were taken out during a one year tour there. The dead rats were in turn ate by the crabs and the squashed crabs were in turn feasted on by the rats. The island has feral chickens for the breadth of the island. Excess chicken are culled with a once a year one day hunt. Whereby Filipino's are allowed to take as many chickens as they can catch and wring their neck for consumption. Feral Diego Donkeys with unique markings are kept to the far side of the island by a Donkey Gate to prevent them from wandering on the runway. The feral cats are now only numbering 22 as the British Police use tuna baited cages to catch them before throwing them in the lagoon to drown them. Which resulted in an population explosion of rats that roam the island by the tens of thousands. The feral dogs were all hunted down, shot, then burned in a pyre to remove them from the island. Since they were not native to the island. The feral pigs died off that subsisted on coconuts. A longterm Flipino worker told me that the porcine meat tasted like coconuts since they subsisted on them. Sharks are no longer allowed to be shot on sight by US Military personnel on the lagoon side. A 400 pound grouper on the ocean side of the island devoured a Filipino fisherman on the shore by pulling him in. The only remains of him was found of him was an arm and a leg on the beach. The island is 38 miles (60 km) long, with a maximum elevation of 13 feet (4.3 m), and nearly encloses a lagoon some 12 miles long (19 km) and up to 5 miles (8 km) wide. Depths in the lagoon extend to 98 feet (30 m), while numerous coral heads extend toward the surface and form hazards to navigation. Shallow reefs surround the island on the ocean side as well as within the lagoon. The channel and anchorage area are dredged, while the old turning basin can also be used if its depth is sufficient for the ship. Ships only go to anchorage or depart during high tides to avoid the lagoon coral.

Contents

Geography

Climate

History

Politics

Strategic importance

Wild Life

See also

References

External links

Geography

The atoll forms a nearly complete rim of land around a lagoon, following 90 percent of its perimeter, with an opening only in the North. The main island is the largest of some sixty islands which form the Chagos Archipelago. Besides the main islands, there are three small islets at the mouth of the lagoon in the north:
#West Island (8.4 acres/3.4 ha)
#Middle Island (14.8 acres/6 ha)
#East Island (29 acres/11.75 ha)
The total area of the atoll measures 66 square miles (170 km², or 174 km² according to [ftp://rock.geosociety.org/pub/reposit/2001/2001075.pdf]), of which 12 square miles (30 km²) are land area, 6.5 square miles (17 km²) peripheral reef and 48 square miles(124 km²) are lagoon.

Climate

Annual rainfall averages 102 inches (260 cm) with the heaviest precipitation occurring from October to February, though even the driest month (August) averages 4.2 inches (10 cm). Temperatures are generally close to 30 °C (high 80s Fahrenheit) by day, falling to the low 20s °C (70°F) by night. Humidity is high throughout the year. However the almost constant breezes keep conditions reasonably comfortable.
Diego Garcia is at risk from tropical cyclones. The surrounding topography is low and does not provide an extensive wind break. However since the 1960s, the island has not been seriously affected by a severe tropical cyclone, even though it has often been threatened. The maximum sustained wind associated with a tropical cyclone in the period 1970-2000 at Diego Garcia has been approximately 40 knots (75 km/h).

The island and base were unaffected by the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Service personnel on the island reported only a minor increase in wave activity. The island was protected by its favourable ocean topography. East of the atoll lies the 400-mile (650 km) long Chagos Trench, an underwater canyon plunging more than 16,000 feet (4,900 m). The depth of the trench and its grade to the shore makes it difficult for tsunami to build before passing the atoll. In addition, undersea coral reefs may have dissipated much of the waves' impact.^[1]
On November 30, 1983 a magnitude 7 earthquake 34 miles (55 km) northwest of the island spawned a small tsunami resulting in a 5-foot (1.5 m) rise in wave height in the Diego Garcia lagoon, causing some damage to buildings, piers and the runway.

History

Portuguese explorers discovered Diego Garcia in the early 16th century. The island's name is believed to have come from either the ship's captain or the navigator on that early voyage of discovery.
The islands remained uninhabited until the 18th century when the French established copra plantations with the help of slave labor. Diego Garcia became a possession of the United Kingdom after the Napoleonic wars, and from 1814 to 1965, it was a dependency of Mauritius.
In 1965, the Chagos Islands, which include Diego Garcia, were detached from Mauritius to form part of the British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT). In 1966, the crown bought the islands and plantations, which had been under private ownership and which had not been profitable with the introduction of new oils and lubricants. In 1971, the plantations were closed because of the agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States to make Diego Garcia available to the U.S. as a military base. No payment was made as part of this arrangement, although it has been claimed that the United Kingdom received a US$14 million discount on the acquisition of Polaris missiles from the United States.^[2] This agreement also forbids any other economic activity on the island.
Until 1971, Diego Garcia had a native population, known as the Chagossians (or Ilois), which was composed of the descendants of East Indian workers and African slaves who had been brought to the island in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to work on the coconut and copra plantations. They lived in three settlements: East Point (the main settlement on the eastern rim of the atoll), Minni Minni (2.75 mi or 4.5 km north of East Point), and Pointe Marianne (on the western rim). The islanders were forcibly depopulated to the Seychelles and then to Mauritius amid allegations of starvation and intimidation tactics by the U.S. and UK governments, including the alleged killing of island dogs by American soldiers. Ever since their expulsion, the Chagossians have continually asserted their right to return to Diego Garcia. In April 2006, 102 Chagossians were allowed to visit Diego Garcia for a week, to tend to graves and visit their birthplaces.^{[3] [4]}

Now, Diego Garcia is home to a military base jointly operated by the United States and the United Kingdom. The base serves as a naval refuelling and support station. It also serves as the home to Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two, the naval unit responsible for the readiness of the ships in Military Sealift Command Prepositioning Program in the Indian Ocean, a vital strategic asset to the United States.^[5]
Diego Garcia also has an airbase that supports the largest of modern aircraft. B-52s, other bombers, and aerial refueling tanker aircraft have been deployed to Diego Garcia to execute missions to Iraq in support of the Iraq War. During the 1991 Gulf War, it was home to the 4300 Provisional Bomb Wing, made up of B-52G bombers from Loring AFB and other B-52G bases. Diego Garcia was also used in support of military missions in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iraq again during the 2003 invasion. High-tech portable shelters to support the B-2 bomber were built on the island before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The B-52s, B-1s and B-2s deployed to Diego Garcia, in anticipation of the second Iraq War carried out the initial aerial bombardment on Baghdad on March 22, 2003. Some of these bombers dropped GPS guided bombs and laser guided 4,200 lb. (1,905 kg) bunker busters in "decapitation strikes" intended to kill Saddam Hussein and other Baath Party officials.^[6] Diego Garcia is also a regular deployment site for US Navy P-3C Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft. Chalk writings on 2000 pound bombs were suspended due to the crude nature of the comments. But if you know the right armor personnel you can still write an epitaph on the large munitions. MOAB's, nuclear crusie missiles and torpedos are also stockpiled on the island in bunkers. With lightening aerials to prevent the numerous lightning strikes from setting off munitons.
The base is part of the U.S. Space Surveillance Network,^[7] with a three-telescope GEODSS station, and is a NASA Space Shuttle emergency landing site.^[8]
Neither the U.S. nor the UK recognises Diego Garcia as being subject to the African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty, even though the rest of the Chagos Archipelago is included, suggesting the U.S. and/or UK wishes to maintain the freedom to base nuclear weapons there.
The agreement between the UK and U.S. for the U.S. to use the island as a military base was made in 1966. It specifies that the agreement runs until 2036, but that either government can opt out of the agreement in 2016.
Construction and maintenance of the base's communications equipment, fuel facilities and military hardware is done strictly by military contractors, and inventories of that weaponry are classified. No service-member family dependents are allowed. In 2001, the US Department of Defense said that there were more buildings on Diego Garcia (654) than military personnel.^[9]

Politics

In 2000, the High Court granted the islanders the right to return to the Archipelago and granted them UK citizenship. In 2002, the islanders and their descendants, now numbering 4,500, returned to court claiming compensation, after what they said were two years of delays by the British Foreign Office. However, on June 10, 2004, the British government made two Orders-in-Council banning the islanders from returning home,^[10] reversing the 2000 court decision. Some of the Chagossians are making return plans to turn Diego Garcia into a sugarcane and fishing enterprise as soon as the defence agreement expires (possibly as early as 2016, but almost certainly in 2036 — unless the agreement is renewed). A few dozen other Chagossians are still fighting to be housed in the UK^[11].
On May 11, 2006, the British High Court ruled that the 2004 Orders-in-Council were unlawful, and consequently that the Chagossians were entitled to return to the Chagos Archipelago.^[12]. This judgment was upheld by the Court of Appeal on May 23, 2007^[13], It remains to be seen whether the British Government will make a further appeal, and when or how the judgment might be implemented in practice.
Human rights groups claim that the military base is used by the U.S. government for the controversial "extraordinary rendition" of prisoners. This claim was supported by the Council of Europe in June 2007^[14]. The former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw stated in parliament that U.S. authorities have repeatedly assured him that no detainees have passed in transit through Diego Garcia or have disembarked there.^[15]

Strategic importance

During the Cold War era, the United States was keen on establishing a military base in the Indian Ocean. Because of Diego Garcia's proximity to India, a potential ally of the Soviet Union, the United States saw the island as a strategically important one. U.S. military activities in Diego Garcia have caused friction between India and U.S. in the past.^[16]
During the Cold War era, various political parties in India repeatedly demanded that the U.S. dismantle the military base as they saw US' naval presence in Diego Garcia as a potential threat to India's dominance of the Indian Ocean.^[17]

However, after the end of the Cold War, relations between India and U.S. have improved dramatically. Diego Garcia was the site of several naval exercises between the US and Indian Navy held between 2001 and 2004.
Diego Garcia is also located relatively close to the Middle East, and experienced rapid military build-ups during the beginnings of the Iranian revolution and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Diego Garcia has several current missions. U.S. Air Force bombers and AWACS surveillance planes operate from the 12,000 foot (3,650 m) runway, and the USAF Space Command has built a satellite tracking station and communications facility.
The atoll also shelters the 14 ships of Marine Prepositioning Squadron Two. These ships carry the equipment and supplies to support a major armed force with light tanks, armored personnel carriers, munitions, fuel, spare parts and even a mobile field hospital. This equipment showed its necessity during the Persian Gulf War, when the Squadron quickly delivered its equipment to Saudi Arabia. There, soldiers flown on air transports from U.S. and European bases quickly unloaded and deployed the pre-positioned material.
The ships stationed at Diego Garcia in 2001 included:
'Five maritime pre-positioning ships: ' MV ''Baugh'', MV ''Hauge'', MV ''Bonnyman'', MV ''Phillips'' and MV ''Anderson''. Each ship carries enough Marine Corps cargo to support a Marine Air-Ground Task Force for 30 days.
'Four combat pre-positioning force ships : 'MV ''Jeb Stuart'', MV ''American Cormorant'', SS ''Green Valley'' and SS ''Green Harbour''. These ships provided quick-response delivery of US Army equipment for ground troops. ''Jeb Stuart'', ''Green Valley'' and ''Green Harbour'' are LASH ships carrying Army ammunition in non-powered lighters (or barges) that can be ferried to shore.
'Five logistics pre-positioning ships -' MV ''Buffalo Soldier'', SS ''Potomac'', MV ''Green Ridge'', USNS ''Henry J. Kaiser'', and MV ''Fisher''. These ships service the rapid delivery needs of the US Air Force, US Navy and Defense Logistics Agency. ''Buffalo Soldier'' and ''Fisher'' are container ships carrying Air Force ammunition, missiles and spare parts. ''Green Ridge'' carries a 500-bed Navy hospital used to support Fleet and Marine Forces engaged in combat operations ashore. ''Henry J. Kaiser'' is one of three tankers assigned to MSC in support of the Defense Logistics Agency's requirement to pre-position fuel afloat. ''Potomac'' is an offshore petroleum discharge system (OPDS) tanker.
Smaller prepositioned squadrons exist at Guam and in the Persian Gulf.
The island also functions as an 'abort landing' strip for the Space Shuttle, owing to its long runway and relative isolation, being the only 'friendly' airbase that NASA can use in the Indian Ocean. The Shuttle has never needed to land there. The island was also used as a refueling stop during U.S. President George W. Bush's journey from Iraq to Australia in September, 2007. ^[18]

Wild Life

The island is also a haven for several types of crab; hermit crabs overrun the jungle at night. The extremely large (up to 9lb) coconut crab, or "robber crab" is found here as well. There is a large number of red crabs everywhere in the island though it is not known to which species they belong. They could be seen everywhere (tents, showers, laundry rooms, runway, etc..)
All of the flora and fauna are protected, and hefty fines are levied against violators. It is even unlawful to be in possession of a dead coconut crab.

See also

★ Ascension Island

★ Depopulation of Diego Garcia

★ RAF Gan

★ Robert Moresby

★ ''Stealing a Nation''

References

1. "Diego Garcia Navy base reports no damage from quake, tsunamis". Leo Shane III, ''Stars and Stripes''. 28 December 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
2. "House of Commons Hansard Debate for 7 June 2004 (part 3)". UK Parliament. 7 June 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
3. "Emotional return for Chagossians". ''BBC News''. 14 April 2006. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
4. "Out of Eden". John Pilger, ''The Guardian''. 29 May 2006. URL accessed 1 June 2006
5. "Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadron Two", URL Accessed 1 February 2007
6. Chalmers Johnson, ''The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, secrecy and the end of the republic'' (London: Verso, 2004) 221-2.
7. United State Strategic Command: "Re-entry Assessment and Space Surveillance". US Strategic Command. March 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006
8. "Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Sites". ''GlobalSecurity.org''. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
9. Chalmers Johnson, ''The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, secrecy and the end of the republic'' (London: Verso, 2004) 221.
10. KArticle&aid=1087553733971 "Developments in the British Indian Ocean Territory". UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. 15 June 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
11. "Exiles protest in Downing Street". ''BBC News''. 3 November 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
12. "Britain shamed as exiles of the Chagos Islands win the right to go home". Neil Tweedie, ''The Daily Telegraph''. 12 May 2006. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
13. "Chagos families win legal battle". ''BBC News''. 23 May 2007. URL accessed 23 May 2007.
14. [http://www.sacc.org.uk/sacc/docs/coe-rendition-second-marty-report.pdf section 70 (page 13) covers Diego Garcia (retrieved 5 July 2007.
15. "House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 21 Jun 2004". UK Parliament. 21 June 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
16. "Bush's response to South Asia disaster: indifference compounded by political incompetence". Patrick Martin, ''World Socialist Web Site''. 30 December 2004. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
17. "Making India an Appendage to US". Sitaram Yechury, Communist Party of India (Marxist). 1 July 2001. URL accessed 1 June 2006.
18. http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070904/img/pts-u-s-president-george-w-49f21cc587050.html


See also The Minority Rights Group Report No. 54 "Diego Garcia: a contrast to the Falklands" written by John Madeley. ISBN 0946690251.

External links

★ The UK Chagos Support Association : The story so far

★ Chagos Islands Indigenous Population Internet Site

★ Diego Garcia Online: Information for locals of Diego Garcia.

★ Avocado|Azzurro: Daily Video from Diego Garcia.

★ Official site of the United States Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia.

★ Official site of the UK PJHQ Overseas Bases, Diego Garcia.

★ Diego Garcia timeline posted at the History Commons

★ Diego Garcia "Camp Justice", GlobalSecurity.org

★ US/UK BIOT defence agreements, 1966-1982, US Court filing

★ Where in the World Is Diego Garcia?, Infoplease.com

★ Simon Winchester on Diego Garcia, in ''Granta'' Magazine

★ Diego Garcia on Google Maps

★ Diego Garcia: Paradise Cleansed, by John Pilger

★ The Jewel in the Pentagon's Crown, by Gisle Tangenes, BitsofNews.com

★ Atoll Research Bulletin 149: Geography and Ecology of Diego Garcia Atoll

★ Stealing a Nation - A Special Report by John Pilger on Google Video; on YouTube.com

★ A Return from Exile in Sight? The Chagossians and their Struggle, from the ''Northwestern Journal of International Human Rights''

★ Alex Doherty 'Diego Garcia', in ZNet

★ Curtis, Mark Web of Deceit: Britain's Real Role in the World. London:Vintage, 2003.