Nine testify in closed hearings in probe of 1962 Thinadhoo forced evictions

The Ombudsperson’s Office for Transitional Justice (OTJ) has taken testimonies from nine people in its investigation into the human rights violations that occurred during the forced eviction of residents of GDh. Thinadhoo.

The nine people gave their testimonies in closed hearings held from October 16-26.

OTJ's  investigation focuses on dentification of violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms which occurred during the forced eviction of residents of Thinadhoo in 1962 and to find out the reasons and causes of the incident.

The case was submitted to the OTJ by the Thinadhoo Council.

Thinadhoo Council has asked for the residence of then-Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasir – which has been repossessed by the state – to be renamed from ‘Velaanage’ to ‘GDh. Thinadhoo Velaanaage’.

They have also asked for a formal apology from the state to the people of Thinadhoo, the restoration of the rights that were violated, and for 50 percent of the profits from assets of the perpetrators to be given to the people of Thinadhoo for perpetuity as restitution.

The forced eviction of the residents of Thinadhoo is marked in history as one of the greatest atrocities of all time in Maldives.