View source for British Indian Ocean Territory

[[Image:Flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg|right|250px]]
[[Image:Coat of arms of the British Indian Ocean Territory.svg|right|200px]]
The '''British Indian Ocean Territory''' is a [[dependent territory|dependency]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. It includes many small [[island]]s in the [[Indian Ocean]]. The territory is the seven [[atoll]]s of the [[Chagos Archipelago]] with over 1,000 individual islands{{spaced ndash}}many very small. There is a total land area of {{convert|60|km2|sqmi}}.<ref name=CIA>{{cite web| title=British Indian Ocean Territory| url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/io.html| publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]| work=World Factbook| date=27 March 2013| accessdate=5 April 2013}}</ref> The largest island is [[Diego Garcia]]. 

Both [[India]] and [[Mauritius]] claim the territories, and do not recognise the United Kingdom's authority over the [[Chagos Archipelago]]. India does not recognise Anglo [[sovereignty]] over these "Cultural Indo-Indian/Indies islands" and has disputed their status since 1947.<ref name=FAC-20080706-p125>{{Cite document|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmfaff/147/14708.htm#a39|title=Seventh Report - Overseas Territories|page=125|author=Foreign Affairs Committee|publisher=House of Commons|date=6 July 2008|accessdate=6 August 2009}}</ref>

The [[Indigenous peoples|natives]] of these islands were [[deportation|deported]] (made to leave their homes) by the British government. They were sent to [[Mauritius]] and the [[Seychelles]]. This happened in 1968 to 1973, to allow the [[United States]] to build a joint UK/US [[military base]]. In 2000, the High Court of the UK first ruled that the natives had the right to return home, but the government have been fighting hard against this court decision, and many of the natives are still said to be trying to move back to the islands.

== References ==
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{{Commonwealth nations|nocategory=yes}}


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[[Category:Territorial disputes of India]]
[[Category:British Indian Ocean Territory| ]]


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