Separatist Movement in Havaru Thinadhoo

Nov 26, 2008


Havaru Thinadhoo, presently known as G.DH Thinadhoo was once depopulated and dispersed and later again on 22 August 1966 it was rebuilt with 440 households of not more than 2500 inhabitants. According to the historians of Maldives the people of Thinadhoo were involved in the formation of separate nation called United Suvadive Republic ( 3 January 1959 to 23 September 1963) jointly with Addu and Fuvamulah, three southernmost Atolls of Maldives and Huvadhoo Ocean separating them from the rest of Maldives.
According to the historians the separatist movement started soon after British started their decolonizing the South Asia namely India and Sri Lanka. Due to lack of proper communication and scheduled shipping line there was no communication between the Centre and the distant atolls of Maldives The islanders of these atolls were deprived from essential items like food, clothing and most importantly there was no medicines for epidemic s. This isolation leads the South Atolls to establish direct trade link with Ceylon and South of India. The islanders had their own sail boats and were self sufficient without the help of the Centre of the Maldives. The historians agree that the south of Maldives was wealthier than that of Male’ due to its direct trade links with the foreign traders. This self sufficiency was affected when India and Sri Lanka got its independence and South traders need to get a travel document which was issued in Male’. This caused many sailors and the businessmen to suffer again. Frustration together with the isolation caused Southern warriors to go against government and form new nation thinking that with the help of British they will be able to sail across the ocean to their destinations without showing document. The people of South with their open heart trusted English people who were supervising the work of the Gan airport, without knowing that their Government had seized the ships of South people. This caused the south people to suffer in starvation. Many people and children died due to the starvation. Then the Prime Minister used the opportunity and called for surrender. The hunger and the anger made the people not to surrender in fact they fought even though they do not own any weapons. Some historians say that they are the people with pride and arrogance.
When I read some articles about Havaru Thinadhoo Baqavai i was amazed by the courage of the people. They not only fought for their rights but also fought to protect their properties and family. Their properties were destroyed in 1962 when the Prime Minister captured the island and forced islanders to leave the Island. The prisoners were taken to Male’ in Maldives Star and were imprisoned for life where many prisoners died due to torture and disease. The rest of people were dispersed to other neighbouring islands where most of them had to sell the belongings they left with to get a handful of rice. This is not worse than that of the situation in Darfur. The people of Thinadhoo lost their properties; families had to find separate way, lost their pride, the pregnant women lived with no husband to support. The once capital of the atoll was looted. Havaru Thinadhoo was resettled on the 22nd August 1966. The name was changed from Havaru Thinadhoo to Thinadhoo on 27th June 1979.
I wonder when the eminent people will be willing to tell the truths, wonder why suddenly they started talking about decentralisation and the way of connecting all the islands. The centre should not be biased. We all are Maldivians and we share same history, culture and Tradition. Maldives not only need to restructure the government it also need to have better and proper shipping line as well as costal security system

New Salary of President


The Financial Committee of the Peoples Majlis has proposed Rf. 150000 for President and Rf.75000 for vice President and the Majlis today approved Rf.100000 as the monthly salary for President for which 16 members voted in favor and Rf.75000 for Vice President. The newly appointed President however showed his concern saying that he thinks that the proposed salary is too high before the bill was send to the parliament for approval. At the Majlis session held yesterday, the parliament members discussed about the proposal of the Financial Committee and indeed all the members felt that the salary was too high. Parliament members had different views and members suggested that the salary should not go beyond Rf.100000. The main discussion was held regard to the President’s salary though some members also focused on the vice president salary. However the proposed salary was approved for Vice President. This is first time that Maldives has Vice President Post who is paid same amount as the salary which was paid to previous President. Based on the local news coverage what I understood was that the proposal was made without any base, without any calculation no surveys neither any much facts. The Financial Committee came up with some amount saying that no citizen of the Maldives should get higher salary than that of President and Vice President and if the salary is low then it will hinder their responsibilities. The President should be paid highly so that he will be able to fully commit to his responsibilities as President.

What amazed me was a comment from a member saying that the President should get enough salary to build his house and make his life comfortable when he leaves President Post and he should not be a burden for the Parliament after that. These members once were saying that the former president was spending government money for his own private use. Is this making any sense to us?

Before the parliament approves the salary, it has to be more transparent without any loopholes. People elect president and hand him responsibilities of leading the nation forgetting that he has a life and needs to be fulfilled. He is a human being like any of us. He has to be paid like us. People are not willing to accept this because President they believe that President is entitled for numerous allowances and gets everything. People want to know reason why he needs a separate salary to secure his future. I am not bother about that he is under or over paid but curious to know why and for what he is being paid that huge amount despite with all facilities.

What I feel is that when a Parliament opted to revise the salary it has to be shared with the whole society and people should know what really this salary refers to?. This is to avoid the unwanted accusations. Now the question is that whatever parliament approves does it have the consent of the people of Maldives as members are appointed by the people. I do not think so. What about the people who did not tick for them.

 
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