GUERNSEYMAN and human rights campaigner Jon Castle, pictured, is on his way back to the UK after being arrested off the Chagos Islands.
Mr Castle, 56, and fellow campaigner Pete Bouquet were held while campaigning for the rights of the islanders of Diego Garcia, an atoll in the Indian Ocean. They were flown to Singapore on Saturday and are due back this week.
Long-time friend Anne Sandwith said she had spoken to Mr Castle, 56, while he was under arrest at a police station. As skipper of the Musichana, he has been charged with violation of immigration laws to which he has pleaded not guilty.
Mr Castle and Mr Bouquet, who has not been charged with any offence, were protesting against the islanders being forced to leave their home 40 years ago so that the US military could use it as a base.
‘I wasn’t surprised [about the arrest] as it was part of their campaign. He rang me for a bit of legal advice,’ said Mrs Sandwith.
‘He’s been given a £3,000 fine, but will be reappearing before the magistrates in Diego Garcia as he’s refusing to pay it.’
Mrs Sandwith said that the people of Diego Garcia have taken their appeal to the High Court three times, with their return to the islands being granted on each occasion. However, the British Government has brought an injunction stopping that. The islanders have been living in Mauritius and the Seychelles since they were evicted.
‘It’s a matter of injustice. It’s been going on for a long time now. A lot of the local people have been living in camps and many have since died. They had lived in Diego Garcia for more than 200 years.’
Mrs Sandwith said he was being treated well while being held in an air-conditioned police cell.
‘He was calm and very determined. He’s not somebody who gets flustered in a tense situation.
* More information on Mr Castle’s protest can be found at www.peoplesnavy.com.
Article posted on 25th March, 2008 - 12.45pm
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