Coco Islands#Great Coco Island

The islands were on the ancient trade route between India, Burma, and Southeast Asia and were regularly visited by ships.{{sfn|Selth|2008|p=3}} In the 16th century, Portuguese sailors named the islands after the Portuguese word for coconut, coco.{{cn|date=May 2023}} The East India Company took over the islands in the 18th century, later becoming part of the British Raj. The Coco Islands provided food, mainly coconuts, to a penal colony at Port Blair on South Andaman Island; the colony was established in 1858 to hold prisoners from the Indian Rebellion of 1857.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=3-4}}

The islands were leased to the Jadwet family in the 1860s, who built a lighthouse on Table Island.{{cite journal |last=Selth |first=Andrew |title=Burma's Mythical Isles |journal=Australian Quarterly |date=Nov 2008b |volume=80 |number=6 |page=24-48 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/20638594}} The islands were deemed too remote to administer from India after it took many weeks for the Chief Commissioner at Port Blair to learn of a murder at the lighthouse in 1877. Control was transferred to British Burma by 1882. The islands were commercially leased starting in 1878, but attempts to develop it over the next 60 years failed.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=4-5}}

Burma retained the islands when it became a crown colony in 1937.{{sfn|Selth|2008|p=5}} Japan occupied the islands from 1942 to 1945 during the Second World War.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=5-6}}

Burma became independent in 1948 with control over the Coco Islands.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=6-7}} A penal colony was founded on Great Coco Island in January 1959 by Ne Win's government for political prisoners. After Ne Win’s 1962 coup d'état, it developed a reputation as a Burmese "Devil’s Island". Three inmate hunger strikes from 1969 to 1971 led to the prison's closure in December 1971. Afterward, the facilities were transferred to the Burmese Navy.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=6-7}}

In 1998, Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes claimed that China leased the islands in 1994; no supporting evidence had emerged by 2008.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=9-11}}

The Bay of Bengal lies to the west of the islands. The Andaman Sea lies to the east. The Burmese mainland is {{convert|250|km|0|abbr=out}} to the north. The island of Preparis lies {{convert|77|km|0|abbr=on}} to the north-northeast of the Coco Islands. The Coco Islands consist of three main islands, namely Great Coco Island and the smaller Little Coco Island, separated by the Alexandra Channel, as well as Table Island, a third small island located near Great Coco Island.{{cite rowlett|mmr}}

Geographically, they are a part of the Andaman Islands archipelago, most of which belongs to India. They are separated from Landfall Island, the northernmost island in the Indian part of the archipelago, by the {{convert|20|km}} wide Coco Channel.

This reef has four islands. From north to south those are Slipper Island, Table Island, Great Coco Island, and Jerry Island.

The Coco Islands consist of three main islands: Great Coco Island and the smaller Little Coco Island are separated by the Alexandra Channel. A third small island located near Great Coco Island is Table Island.

Great Coco Island ({{coord|14|07|00|N|93|22|03|E|type:island}}) is {{convert|10.4|km|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|2|km|abbr=on}} wide. Many green turtles nest on the beaches of the Island. A series of research programs on marine turtle conservation has been conducted by Myanmar's Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Rural Development. Data collection on tissue samples of green turtles for population genetic and tagging studies was conducted at Great Coco Island in March and April, 2006. Previously, Great Coco Island had never been surveyed for marine turtle conservation due to its remote location. The survey found an estimated 150 sea turtles nesting along with 95,000 hatchlings and juveniles.{{citation needed|date=April 2016}}

The axe-head-shaped Table Island is located {{convert|2.5|km|1|abbr=on}} to the north of Great Coco Island. The island is {{convert|1.6|km|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.2|km|1|abbr=on}} wide. The island previously housed a lighthouse in its southwestern portion, but it is now uninhabited. The lighthouse was built in 1867, with a focal plane of 59 m.{{Cite rowlett|mmr}} It has a lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal bands. Two 1-story brick keeper's houses and other light station buildings lie around the lighthouse.

The island is accessible by boat. One of the former island keepers was brutally murdered by his boss.

Slipper Island is a {{convert|0.4|km|1|abbr=on}} long narrow islet located off the northwestern point of Table Island, separated from it by a {{convert|0.2|km|1|abbr=on}} narrow channel.{{cite book |author1=National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency |title=Sailing Directions (Enroute): India and Bay of Bengal |date=2005 |publisher=Prostar Publications |isbn=9781577856627 |page=224 |edition=8th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hWv9ZhMhgusC&q=slipper |access-date=14 August 2021}}

Jerry Island is a {{convert|1.1|km|1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|0.2|km|abbr=on}} wide islet located off the southern point of Great Coco Island, which can be reached from the Great Coco Island just by walking on the sandbar connecting these two islands.

This reef has only one island.

Little Coco Island lies {{convert|16|km|abbr=on}} to the southwest of Great Coco Island. It is {{convert|5|km|abbr=on}} long from north to south and {{convert|1.2|km|abbr=on}} wide from east to west. This island is on a separate reef, and the rest of the four islands (including Table Island) are on the same reef as Coco Island. This is the southernmost Island belonging to Myanmar in the Andaman and Nicobar Sea, the next island to the south is Landfall Island belonging to India.

File:Andaman nicobar 76.jpg|Map of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with the Coco Islands in the extreme north

File:Great-Coco-map.jpg|Map of Great Coco Island with tiny Jerry Island at the bottom

File:Little-Coco-map.jpg|Map of Little Coco Island, it is the southernmost island of Myanmar

File:Table-Island-map.jpg|Map of Table Island in the middle and Slipper Island to the northwest

{{see also|Cocokyun Township}}

There are more than 200 houses on Great Coco Island, and its total population is around a thousand people. A large water catchment reservoir can support the island's population.{{cite web |title=News (Monday, 9 June, 1997) |url=http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs6/NLM1997-06-09-text.pdf |website=New Light of Myanmar |access-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191124221617/http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs6/NLM1997-06-09-text.pdf |archive-date=24 November 2019 |date=9 June 1997 |url-status=live}}

There is a naval base on the islands, which belongs to the 28th unit of the Myanmar Navy. It is home to some 200 soldiers and their families.

{{missing information|origin of the population of the island|date=November 2018}}

The Coco Islands have a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am). Temperatures are very warm throughout the year. There is a winter dry season from December to March. There is a summer wet season from April to November. Heavy rain has been known in September, such as {{convert|761|mm|in}} of rain.

{{Weather box

|location = Coco Islands (1991–2020)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan high C = 30.7

|Feb high C = 31.1

|Mar high C = 31.9

|Apr high C = 33.4

|May high C = 32.8

|Jun high C = 31.1

|Jul high C = 30.6

|Aug high C = 30.3

|Sep high C = 30.5

|Oct high C = 31.5

|Nov high C = 32.0

|Dec high C = 31.2

|year high C = 31.4

|Jan mean C = 25.7

|Feb mean C = 25.6

|Mar mean C = 26.6

|Apr mean C = 28.4

|May mean C = 28.8

|Jun mean C = 27.7

|Jul mean C = 27.2

|Aug mean C = 27.0

|Sep mean C = 26.9

|Oct mean C = 27.4

|Nov mean C = 27.5

|Dec mean C = 26.6

|year mean C = 27.1

|Jan low C = 20.8

|Feb low C = 20.1

|Mar low C = 21.3

|Apr low C = 23.4

|May low C = 24.7

|Jun low C = 24.3

|Jul low C = 23.7

|Aug low C = 23.7

|Sep low C = 23.4

|Oct low C = 23.2

|Nov low C = 23.0

|Dec low C = 21.9

|year low C = 23.9

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 21.6

|Feb precipitation mm = 1.0

|Mar precipitation mm = 13.4

|Apr precipitation mm = 39.9

|May precipitation mm = 238.8

|Jun precipitation mm = 454.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 466.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 463.1

|Sep precipitation mm = 426.4

|Oct precipitation mm = 193.3

|Nov precipitation mm = 135.1

|Dec precipitation mm = 30.6

|year precipitation mm = 2483.7

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 0.8

|Feb precipitation days = 0.1

|Mar precipitation days = 0.8

|Apr precipitation days = 2.4

|May precipitation days = 11.9

|Jun precipitation days = 19.8

|Jul precipitation days = 20.9

|Aug precipitation days = 20.3

|Sep precipitation days = 19.3

|Oct precipitation days = 13.8

|Nov precipitation days = 6.9

|Dec precipitation days = 1.6

|year precipitation days = 118.5

|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/4.4/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Myanmar/CSV/CocoIsland_48109.csv

| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020: Mandalay-48042

| publisher = National Oceanic and atmospheric administration

| format = CSV

| access-date = 2 August 2023}}{{cite web

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210717015628/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Myanmar/48109_CocoIsland.xlsx

| archive-date = 17 July 2021

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Myanmar/48109_CocoIsland.xlsx

| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981–2010

| publisher = World Meteorological Organization

| access-date = 16 July 2021}}

|date=January 2013

}}

The island belongs to the township of Cocokyun. The township had a corruption scandal in the Myanmar general election of 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mizzima.tv/index.php/108-headlines-news/5687-advance-votes-will-not-happen-for-government-staff-and-other-organizations-in-cocokyun-township-as-ballot-papers-have-not-been-sent-in-time-mizzima-com|title=Scandal Election}}{{dead link|date=August 2021}} Ballots were filled in Yangon without being shipped, resulting in a high turnout and police investigation.{{Cite web |url=http://www.themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/documents/15-Sector_Map_Gov_IFES_Pyithu_Hluttaw-Turnout_MIMU1363v01_11Jan16_A3.pdf |title=Turnout vote |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428155442/http://www.themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/documents/15-Sector_Map_Gov_IFES_Pyithu_Hluttaw-Turnout_MIMU1363v01_11Jan16_A3.pdf |archive-date=28 April 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/i|title=News|website=Myanmar NOW}}

The {{convert|1800|m|ft|adj=on}} Coco Island Airport (ICAO code: VYCI) is at the north of Great Coco Island. It follows the north–south axis near the island's village. The airport was recently renovated.{{cite web |title=Senior General Min Aung Hlaing opens mobile telecom service in Cocokyun |url=https://www.gnlm.com.mm/senior-general-min-aung-hlaing-opens-mobile-telecom-service-in-cocokyun/ |publisher=Global New Light of Myanmar |access-date=14 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804160806/https://gnlm.com.mm/senior-general-min-aung-hlaing-opens-mobile-telecom-service-in-cocokyun/ |archive-date=4 August 2021 |date=27 December 2014 |url-status=live}}

In 1992, a Japanese news service reported that China was helping upgrade the base on Great Coco Island. Through the 1990s and 2000s, journalists and academics expanded the claims to China having a major signals intelligence base, seemingly part of the so-called "string of pearls", that monitored Indian activity. In 1998, George Fernandes also claimed China intended to build a major naval base on the islands; India was the only country to publicly "confirm" that the Chinese base existed. No supporting evidence appears through 2008. China and Burma denied the base's existence. In 1998, the United States reported that there was no significant Chinese activity. In 2005, India retracted its position; this followed an Indian inspection of the islands at Burma's invitation.{{sfn|Selth|2008|pp=9-11}}

In 2014, Air Marshal P. K. Roy, commander-in-chief of India's Andaman and Nicobar Command, stated that "China has been developing a runway for civilian purposes.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/runway-other-infrastructure-being-developed-at-coco-islands/articleshow/30063312.cms|title=Runway, other infrastructure being developed at Coco Islands | Kolkata News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=8 February 2014 }}{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/chinese-naval-ships-detected-near-andamans/articleshow/48817805.cms|title=Chinese naval ships detected near Andamans | India News – Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=4 September 2015 }} There are no reports of the presence of Chinese per se. The situation is not alarming". He added that there were only some civilian infrastructural developments, which were not a threat to India.{{cite news|title=China a strategic partner, not a threat|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/china-a-strategic-partner-not-a-threat-114020800515_1.html|accessdate=14 February 2014|newspaper=Business Standard|date=8 February 2014}}

Satellite images from Maxar Technologies, taken in January 2023, revealed upgrades to Coco Island Airport. These included a longer 2,300-metre runway, a radar tower, and two new hangars. It appears that the installation is run by the Tatmadaw or Myanmar military with no visible Chinese military presence.{{cite news|title=Is Myanmar building a spy base on Great Coco Island?|url=https://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/the-world-today/2023-04/myanmar-building-spy-base-great-coco-island|accessdate=2 April 2023|newspaper=Chatham House|date=31 March 2023}}

The islands offer the opportunity to see rare reptiles, birds, and mammals that are unique to the Coco Islands.{{Cite web |url=http://www.myanmarburma.com/attraction/150/great-coco-island-and-little-coco-island |title=Great Coco Island and Little Coco Island Official site |access-date=21 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508214353/http://www.myanmarburma.com/attraction/150/great-coco-island-and-little-coco-island |archive-date=8 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}

; Exclusive economic zones

• Exclusive economic zone of India
• Exclusive economic zone of Indonesia
• Exclusive economic zone of Malaysia
• Exclusive economic zone of Thailand
• India's Look-East Connectivity projects
• Sabang strategic port development, India-Indonesia project
• Sittwe Port, India-Myanmar project
• Dawei Port Project in Myanmar

; Extreme points

• Rondo Island, Indonesia's northernmost island is closest to Indira Point
• Narcondam Island, India's easternmost point of Andaman Nicobar Islands group
• Landfall Island, India's northernmost island of Andaman Nicobar Islands group
• Extreme points of India
• Extreme points of Indonesia
• Extreme points of Myanmar
• Extreme points of Bangladesh
• Extreme points of Thailand
• List of islands of Burma

; Borders of Myanmar

• Bangladesh–Myanmar border
• China–Myanmar border
• India–Myanmar border
• Laos–Myanmar border
• Thailand–Myanmar border

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite report |last1=Selth |first1=Andrew |date=November 2008 |title=Burma's Coco Islands: Rumours and Realities in the Indian Ocean |series=Working Papers |issue=101 |url=https://www.cityu.edu.hk/searc/Resources/Paper/WP101_08_ASelth.pdf |website=Southeast Asia Research Centre |publisher=City University of Hong Kong |access-date=5 May 2023 }}

{{refend}}

{{Commons category|Coco Islands}}

• [https://www.jstor.org/stable/20638594?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Burma's mythical islands]
• [https://www.un.org/depts/los/LEGISLATIONANDTREATIES/PDFFILES/MAPS/mmr_mzn64_2008_00210.jpg Official Nautical Chart of Coco Islands]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080624122021/http://www.ioseaturtles.org/feature_detail.php?id=144 Indian Ocean – South-East Asian Marine Turtle Memorandum of Understanding]

{{Islands of Burma}}

{{Yangon Region}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coco Islands}}

Category:Populated places in Myanmar

Category:Islands of Myanmar

Category:Islands of the Indian Ocean