Mayor Saud slams ‘forced’ migration to capital; draws parallels with Thinadhoo massacre

Thinadhoo mayor Saud Ali has slammed ‘forced’ migration of people living in islands to Male’, accusing President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s administration of employing similar policies as the one that led to brutal Thinadhoo massacre in 1962.

In 1962, then-Prime Minister Ibrahim Nasirr ordered the depopulation of Thinadhoo to crush the secessionist United Suvadive Republic in the southern atolls. Government forces invaded, destroyed the island, killed and raped residents, and reportedly left hundreds dead or permanently displaced.

On Wednesday, Saud accused the incumbent administration of doing the same thing, but in a different way.

Saud alleged that instead of using the military to depopulate and destroy islands, the incumbent administration is denying services to islands, making people believe they have no choice but to migrate to Male’.

“Top government officials, instead of physically forcing out people and destroying islands, are destroying the health system and education system in islands, closing the path to creation of jobs, denying housing, and showing through their actions that people have no choice but to migrate to the Male’ area,” he said.

He also criticized the 76 parliamentarians representing constituencies outside Male’ for their silence over the matter.

He alleged that members of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), who hold a supermajority in the Parliament, remain “constrained” even as populations in local islands plummet, and public services get disrupted.

“98 percent of the approved state budget is being spent on concentrating 350,000 people to the Male’ area. So, the remaining 50,000 people can die in their home islands, right? They have this mindset within the administration,” he said.

Saud alleged that the media does not dare to report on this out of fear of being denied sponsorship and other financial assistance by the state.

He called on the people to think deeply regarding the situation.

Saud alleged that President Muizzu’s administration’s plan was to reclaim land from the waters surrounding Male’, and force the entire Maldivian population there.

This is a major conspiracy by the government to deliberately depopulate islands, he alleged.

The Thinadhoo City Council previously stated that while the suffering of the people of Thinadhoo in the 1962 massacre went beyond any amount of financial compensation, the council would do whatever necessary bring the perpetrators to justice.