President Nasheed Apologies to Thinadhoo residents for 1962 Thinadhoo Genocide

President Mohamed Nasheed has yesterday apologized to the residents of Thinadhoo of South Huvadhooo Atoll for the cruel acts enforced on the people of the island during on the orders of Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir to end the separatist movement of the United Suvadive Republic.

President Nasheed made the formal apology at the cabinet meeting held yesterday in Thinadhoo. He said that it was a sad day in history.

In 4 February 1962 Havaru Thinadhoo was completely destroyed on the orders of Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir to end the separatist movement of the United Suvadive Republic. The islanders were told to go to the shallow reef, where they were forced to stand for hours in water up to their necks. Meanwhile all houses were destroyed, all wells broken and filled with rubble, all trees were cut down and much property was looted while the islanders watched. The island was then depopulated and its people dispersed. Women and children were raped in front of their families. Between 200 and 300 prisoners were taken back to Malé, where they were tortured and most killed.

The 4800 residents of Thinadhoo at the time were forced to flee to nearby islands where most were subject to maltreatment. It was said that settlers in Vadhoo had to trade gold for a handful of rice. In almost all the islands to which they dispered the numbers were declining.

Havaru Thinadhoo was resettled on the 22nd August 1966 by 1800 people. 440 households were rebuilt. Unofficial death count is estimated to be over 2,400. Those of the dead were anonymously buried by the Ibrahim Nasir's government without notice.

The name of this island was changed from Havaru Thinadhoo to Thinadhoo on 27 June 1979.