It wasn?t in the original plan to get to Diego ? but we never ruled anything out. The idea was to go and ?bear witness? to the Chagossians? mistreatment and the murderous bombing of the Middle East from the island. We didn?t have any firm plan. The deciding factor was the admission (in February) by the British Foreign Secretary that two so-called «rendition» US flights had used the military base in 2002. We felt we had to travel to the island and tell the British authorities that their involvement was morally wrong ? torture can never be justified.

● <B>Since 2000, the Chagos islanders have won in Court and in Appeal the right of return to their homeland. Despite this, the British government has taken the case to the House of Lords. Did the action of the People?s Navy come from frustration at the lengthy legal process which has blocked the islanders? right of return? </B>

Yes, the People?s Navy came out of frustration. But direct action isn?t a lot of use -- if there was no legal process or anything else going on, it wouldn?t work. David McTaggart, a leader in the evolution of Greenpeace in Europe used to say: ?Direct action is for people who have got fed up writing to their MP.? Direct action works because it shapes public opinion and puts pressure on politicians. Jon and I know this because we were involved in the early days of Greenpeace and sailed on the original «Rainbow Warrior». We believe it is an individual?s responsibility to speak out against wrong-doing and take action. A lot of individuals in Greenpeace and elsewhere have helped us - that?s how the People?s Navy came into being. We know how to sail boats and so we figured we would go to Chagos and see what would happen.

● <B>Who arrested you in the waters of Diego Garcia?</B>

We never hid what we were doing and we were arrested less than three miles off Diego Garcia. The port operations people told us to exit the area while an American Navy supply ship was watching us. We told them we intended to enter the lagoon as a peaceful protest. So they sent out an RHIB (rigid hull inflatable boat) with a BIOT customs officer, a policeman and an armed Royal Marines escort. We were arrested for being inside the waters of Diego Garcia without permission and detained at the main police station. But they treated us well. They even notified my sister of my arrest.

● <B>What were you charged with? </B>

We went to the Magistrates Court the following Thursday. Only Jon, as Captain of the Musichana, was charged and found guilty of ?violation of the BIOT Visitors and Visiting Vessels Ordinance 2006?. He was fined for £3,000 with costs of £200, to be paid within 7 days and sentenced to 6 months in jail, suspended for one year.

● <B>Why didn?t you pay the fine and forfeit Musichana? Was it a hard decision? </B>

We did not pay the fine because we felt that would be like ?rolling over?. By pleading ?not guilty?, Jon could address the court and make his point. It was not a hard decision though it?s disappointing to lose Musichana. But we intend to pursue this.

● <B>Did you get the chance to look around Diego Garcia? </B>

We were kept under close supervision and could only see a limited amount. But the base and other military facilities are located on the far north-west of the atoll. We didn?t see any bombers but the lagoon had half a dozen or so anchored military supply vessels. Diego Garcia didn?t seem a very busy place. But there?s an army of Filipino civilians and it?s very tidy. There are loads of facilities ? swimming pool and places to have paintball game, play tennis, basketball and baseball as well as take-away pizza and burger places. There is an open-air cinema and various clubs and bars. A sort of Disneyland? There are few British personnel - maybe 50 or so at a guess.

● <B>You visited some outer islands like Peros Banhos and Salomon, while Chagossian stonemasons were allowed in to repair their ancestors? graveyards. Did you meet any? </B>

We met them on both islands. Jon helped the Chagossians on Salomon to clear the graveyard and repair more badly damaged graves. The Chagossians also erected a cross on Peros Banhos. Their Creole and our English were a bit incompatible but they seemed pleased to be doing things.

● <B>Some Chagossians in Mauritius and the Seychelles want to return to these islands. How feasible is this? </B>

The original settlements on both islands have been totally ruined. Peros Banhos is totally overgrown. But it?s feasible for the islanders to return -- it needs money although the British government seems reluctant to come up with resettlement funds. The contrast between the state of the outer islands and Diego Garcia was striking. There?s never a problem finding money for military spending, is there?

● <B>You intended to present a report to the Chagossians in Mauritius - you couldn?t sail to Port Louis - is there a sense of unfinished business? </B>

There is no report per se, but I have talked to and will continue to discuss with the Chagossians to see how we can continue helping them. As far as Jon and I are concerned, there will always be unfinished business until they are allowed to return to their homeland and the military leave the islands for good.

● <B>Any plans to return to the Indian Ocean then? </B>

If we feel there is anything we can do in a practical way, we?ll go back. The People?s Navy is planning to send more boats. Let?s just see how things develop.

<B>Sean CAREY </B> <I>Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Nationalism, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism (CRONEM), Surrey University. A version of this article appeared in the ?New Statesman?</I>