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Editorial
Thinadhoo Mass Grave: a crime against humanity

By Muzaffar M. Naeem (Muju) and A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe’) 25th March 2004

The mass grave used to bury the victims of the ferry disaster (Picture from Haveeru)

The government of the Maldives has given the ultimate insult to the people of the country in a time of national mourning. On the night of Wednesday 17^th, the ferry boat MV Enamaa carrying 126 soccer fans after a game capsized resulting in the drowning of 21 people, mostly women and children. Two people are still missing and 11 are under going treatment. The ferry was traveling to the island of Thinadhoo in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll from the island of Vilingili. This is the worst ever reported sea disaster in the Maldives. Young Ifham (picture below) passed away last night bringing the death toll to 22.

One year old Mohamed Ifhaam being treated in Sri Lanka for his injuries sustained in the tragedy.
Ifhaam passed away last night. May God bless his soul.

After a poor effort by the government in the rescue mission, the many who perished were buried in a mass grave in Thinadhoo, in total contempt of human ethics. The government generously announced that it will take on the expenses for the “state funeral” held to bury the deceased. A state sponsored mass grave! This must be a first!

On Wednesday when the tragedy occurred, President Gayyoom was on a private visit to Singapore. Most people expected him to come home soon as he heard the news but it was not until Saturday that he was able to visit Thinadhoo. People from the island said that he only visited 2 houses yet Haveeru reported that he visited all the houses of those who died in the disaster. Once the Presidential visit was confirmed, the island officials went around the island on Friday with a loud speaker telling people to paint their walls and decorate the island, to welcome the President, who was visiting the island 3 days after the disaster. People merely buried their relatives when the government officials wanted them to prepare the island for a festive welcome to the head of state.

According to people of Thinadhoo, they have never experience so much pain and sorrow in their entire lives. Everyone in the island had lost a relative or a close friend. At a time of such profound bereavement, the call to paint the walls and decorate the island to welcome anyone can only be classed as unethical and inhumane. How can you ask people who have lost so much to turn a corner and forget their pain just because Gayyoom is setting foot on the island? This goes to confirm the obsession of this dictator to be treated as a “God”. There is a time and place for protocols, not when dealing with a national disaster of this proportion.

The irony of it was that Friday was declared a national day of mourning as our people were being buried in a giant pit, disrespectfully, and to some what can only be described as a crime against humanity.

“In 1945, the United States and other Allies developed the Agreement for the Prosecution and Punishment of the Major War Criminals of the European Axis and Charter of the International Military Tribunal (IMT), sitting at Nuremberg, which contained the following definition of crimes against humanity in Article 6(c):

Crimes against humanity: murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhumane acts committed against civilian populations, before or during the war; or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, whether or not in violation of the domestic law of the country where perpetrated.” [http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/crimes-against-humanity.html]

Mass graves have long since been the trademark body disposal method of histories most ruthless and evil men like Hitler, Saddam and Pol Pot. It has long been an activity that has been condemned by human rights organisations all over the world and the United Nations.

Mass graves themselves can be a violation of international law. The Third and Fourth Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I contain provisions governing the proper burial, identification, and registration” of the dead and should be "honorably buried in graves that bear information about them.” http://www.crimesofwar.org/thebook/mass-graves.html

The survivors and relatives of the victims as a result of the actions of the government have been denied the decency of having a proper burial and a gravesite to remember and mourn for their loved ones. Surely, this act by the government of Gayoom is even sacrilegious!

At a time like this we also have to look at the incident and “have the forthrightness to reflect on how this disaster occurred and how a similar catastrophe can be prevented in future” says Ahmed Naseer, a political observer.

“A public inquiry must be held, without the government or the opposition using this incident to make political points. Such an inquiry must examine the complete structure of sea transport in Maldives. I think the international agencies including the UN had in the past poured millions of tax-payer money for the rapid development of the country. In fact two vessels were purchased by the
current administration (Inter Atoll One and Two) several years ago. These vessels actually never performed in the manner they were designed for. Again, huge public funds vanished from the books and no development within the inter island transport structure saw daylight. It is the islanders themselves who developed whatever is now there to be seen. Those who died in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll paid a dear price, in terms of their lives, as a result of the government's mismanagement and rampant corruption.” says Mr. Naseer.

“My intention is not pointing fingers. However, I wish to call a spade just that
-- a spade. May we have the courage to face reality and act”, He adds.

Authorities have now confirmed that the vessel was only licensed to carry 70 passengers. This must be known to the officials and the captain of the vessel. They must be disciplined or even charged for manslaughter and negligence.

The government, in an attempt to divert attention from this atrocious act is investigating a boat that was in the vicinity of the disaster, but had refused to help.

No matter what the outcome of the investigation, the responsibility for the disaster lies heavily on the government of the Maldives. The lack of a proper public transport system within the islands is just one reason why the government will be held accountable for the disaster. The lack or rules and regulations governing private ferries, the failure to implement any existing rules also contribute to the disaster.

Laws should also be introduced to make members of the public accountable if they refused to help and the loss of life is incurred.

And finally, the government is responsible for the mass grave burial, something that should not have happened by any accounts.

As the veil that covers the unethical actions of the government of the Maldives and her president, Gayyoom, is slowly lifted by their own actions, the people of the country is left with no hope for change in the near future. The government’s propaganda machine has been busy using the disaster manipulating it to their whims to maintain the strong hold that it has on this small island nation.

The question still remains, when the Maldivian people are going to be delivered from the claws of this evil man?

LIST OF SOME VICTIMS OF THINADHOO FERRY DISASTER

Following is a list of the 17 people from Thinadhoo island who were confirmed dead as of Thursday after Enamaa boat capsized on Wednesday evening en route to Thinadhoo island in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll from Villingili island in Gaafu Alifu atoll. This list was released by the National Security Service’s Coast Guard.

1. Maryam Saeeda, Sweet Mead house, aged 12 years
2. Rashaqa, Hulhanguge house, aged 17 years
3. Dhonbeefaanu, Dhunburimaage house, aged 48 years
4. Khaleefa, Ujaalaage house, aged 27 years
5. Naseema, Naseemeege house, aged 50 years
6. Shafaqath, Naseemeege house, aged 14 years
7. Dheena Fareed, Porridge House, aged 5 years
8. Mareena Qasim, Fehivilaage house, aged 48 years
9. Muneera, Heeraage house, aged 35 years
10. Aisaafaanu, Reehussabaahu, aged 50 years
11. Rekeefaanu, Heeraage-Dhekunu-bai house, aged 38 years
12. Ameeza Ahmed, Dhunburimaage, aged 20 years
13. Raaif, Hulhanguge house, aged 4 years
14. Hamzeel Ahmed, Silver house, aged 22 years
15. Adeel Mohamed, Friendly Beach, age unconfirmed
16. Ibrahim Rasheed Ali, Night Queen house, aged 35 years (body recovered at 0846 hours local time on Thursday)
17. Rasheeda, Sea View house, age unconfirmed (body recovered at 0846 hours local time on Thursday)