President Nasheed makes formal apology for wrong done to Thinadhoo people

President Mohamed Nasheed has today made a formal apology to the people of Thinadhoo, for “unjust treatment they had to endure during measures taken by the government in 1959 in order to bring the island under the control of the government”.

The President’s formal apology came in his address during a Cabinet workshop conducted at Thinadhoo. This is the first time a government official offered an apology for the controversial incident, in which the Maldivian military had used, according to some, excessive military force and brutality in order to suppress an uprising in Thinadhoo under orders from the then Prime Minister, and later President, Ibrahim Nasir.

President Nasheed said that the government back in 1959 failed to deal justly with the people of Thinadhoo, and he said that no Maldivian would wish such an unfortunate happening to repeat. He stressed the importance of taking all steps towards making sure that it does not happen again.

President Nasheed said that a meeting of the Cabinet was held in Thinadhoo as it was very important to conduct the affairs of the island in accordance with the wishes of the people of Thinadhoo.