The Office of the Ombudsperson for Transitional Justice has revealed the final report of the human rights violations that occurred during the depopulation of Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll in 1962 will be completed next month.
The Transitional Justice Office began proceedings on the Thinadhoo depopulation case as one of the 7 cases listed as cases of national interest, among the 488 cases accepted by the office. The case was submitted to the Transitional Justice Office by the Island Council of Thinadhoo and victims of the human rights violations that occurred during the incident.
The Transitional Justice Office has scheduled the first hearings of the case from March 19-22 in Thinadhoo. Another hearing was held in Male’ on March 27. The hearings are conducted similarly to court hearings.
Speaking regarding the matter, the Public Relations Executive of the Transitional Justice Office Aishath Fathuhee said the investigation into the depopulation has now been completed. She said witnesses from 30 individuals have been collected so far and from the information received, human rights violations among others have been identified. She said the statements from witnesses in the case have clarified many stories previously unheard and unspoken about the incident and provided crucial information for the investigation. The investigation is currently underway and the final report will be prepared by next month, she said.
The complaint of depopulation of Thinadhoo was filed by the Thinadhoo Island Council and some private individuals alleging inhumane torture and violation of their basic rights by the government during 1959-1966 over the unrest in the four southern atolls of the Maldives.
The Office of the Ombudsperson for Transitional Justice was established following the ratification of the Transitional Justice Act on December 17, 2020. The office functions as an autonomous legal identity vested with powers to communicate, file a lawsuit, or receive court charges under the Transitional Justice Act.
The key goals of the Transitional Justice Act are to end the culture of impunity and strengthen the rule of law, thereby strengthening democratic governance. It sanctions investigations into past wrongdoings by state authorities, heads of agencies, or individuals in power, which resulted in human rights violations.