| BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT STATS: |
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countries' copyright length > Usual term of copyright protection
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unknown |
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Dependency status
overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London |
Diplomatic representation from the US
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Diplomatic representation in the US
none (overseas territory of the UK) |
Executive branch > Chief of state
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952) |
Executive branch > Head of government
Commissioner Leigh TURNER (since July 2006); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside in the UK and are represented by the officer commanding British Forces on Diego Garcia |
Flag description
white with six blue wavy horizontal stripes; the flag of the UK is in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag |
Legal system
the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply |
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International
Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago including Diego Garcia; in 2001, the former inhabitants of the Chagos Archipelago, evicted in 1967 and 1973 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed U.K. Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the islands; a small group of Chagossians visited Diego Garcia in April 2006; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest viable island in the chain |
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