This page is under construction but the aim is to illustrate the time of events from the islanders eviction from Diego Garcia in the seventies, up to the present day.

1940 Life in the islands went on as normal with no hint of what would happen 20 years later. The Islanders were self sufficient and lived happy and contented lives depending on no-one but themselves for their well being.

1960 United States Armed Forces assumes control of Diego Garcia. Military hardware starts to  arrive.

1965 United States Government of the day acquires control of Diego Garcia from British Colonial Rule. Photograph [right] shows Ilois children being  taught normally in a makeshift classroom.  After 1965 scenes like this were rare.

1971 Officials from the UK and US Governments of the day officially close     the islands.   Islanders are thrown into turmoil as their livelihoods and homes are threatened.

1974 Ilois people are removed from their homes in Diego Garcia by the UK and US Governments of the day. The islanders are promised homes, education and employment elsewhere but in reality are left to fend for themselves in the shanty towns of Mauritius.

1980 After six years of living in poverty, the islanders begin a series of meetings to reclaim the lives they had been forced   out of.

1981 Islanders rebel against authority as  they take strike action.  Many of the islanders are arrested.

1990 As a result of years of poverty, campaigns and civil unrest, the islanders finally organise  themselves into bringing the fight to go home   to a new generation. First stage protests begin with a petition to remove the US bases from Diego Garcia.

1999 - present After many years of struggle to have their rights restored, the islanders bring their fight to the British  Government.