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.