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13 Jan 2025

Tamil migrants’ hellish time held on Diego Garcia

Along with the top secret base on Diego Garcia – the UK government has also been dealing with a group of Tamil migrants who spent more than 3 years encamped on the island – where a judge ruled they were unlawfully detained.

The families ended up there after fleeing Sri Lanka when their boat got into difficulties – but their rescue turned into a nightmare.

They’ve given graphic accounts to this programme about the shocking conditions in which they were held – and claimed they were warned they’d be shot if they tried to leave.

This report by Simon Israel was produced and partly shot by Sue Clayton.