13.3 Rahne Mari

Sayye Saeed switched on the lights. Seated separately on three cane seat wooden armchairs were Prime Minister Virgo, Defence Minister Rock and Officer Gold.

“Arthur Moyler is the same person with a moustache, the British High Commissioner in Colombo to whom we addressed a letter demanding immediate removal of Major Phyllis who betrayed the Maldive Government and the Sultanate of Maldive Islands,” revealed Saeed.

“He knows the lease was raised for 30 years. I think we can negotiate with him,” said Virgo, “Can you make a copy of it?”

“I don’t think so. May I call Mosanic?”

“Yes.”

Lance Corporal Moosa Manik came in and explained, “Technically impossible but I can forge a copy, sir, by capturing the images on screen to movie camera.”

“Do that and make three copies,” and the prime minister got up from the chair.

“Prime Minister!” Minister Rock stood up, “They have killed three Divas.”

Virgo nodded, “I know it. We know it. We’re not going to talk about it for now. Time will tell,” he walked out of Hakra House and Officer Gold followed.

Defence Minister joined Shakir. “You must go back and take care of the assignment. You did well,” he said, “Saeed, Mosanic, for the moment, we do not infiltrate into the nest. It is too dangerous. Keep Dhekunu eggs cold.”

Savari Shakir took the opportunity to watch a movie at the newly opened Olympus Theatre built from a British donation. Shakir returned to Hittadu on 3^rd July – a Handley Page Hastings crash landed on Gan in a gust of 23 knots and damaged beyond repair.

The letter that appeared on The Times, Monday, 25^th May 1959.

“TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

“Sir – We have noted with interest, statements in the press and radio concerning the political situation in the Maldive Islands and in particular reports of various utterances in Ceylon and London. To present our side of the picture is the aim of this letter.

“Some of our reasons for the secession from the capital are as follows: The indifference of their administration to the elementary needs of the islanders – food, clothing, medicine, education, social welfare and etc. For many years, we have been reduced to serfs and bled by extortionate taxes. At the beginning of this year, further levies were imposed and the people who had nothing left to give revolted.

“We have not a single doctor for 18000 undernourished people and no medical supplies. We have no schools, no means of communication, no public utilities. All this is certainly the fault of Malé. Epidemics of Asian flu, malaria, enteric fever, typhoid, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, etc., sweep our islands periodically during the year. In 1958, we had a serious outbreak of dysentery causing deaths. We appealed to Malé for help. They refused and very piously told us to go on reading the Holy Book. The RAF doctors came to our aid, supplied medicine, visited the sick day and night.

“Can you wonder that we hate Malé?

“Our main export was dried fish which we send to Malé for sale in Ceylon. Payment was made to Malé in Ceylonese rupee but we were forced to accept Maldivian rufiya which is worth only half a rupee. And we buy what food we could afford from Malé.

“The presence of the British in Addu Atoll had absolutely nothing to do with the will of the islanders to break from Malé. Attempts have been made before and as recently as 18 months ago, men were imprisoned for trying to make an improvement. The RAF at Gan Island had no knowledge of our intention to make an uprising on the first day of 1959 – it was a calculated action by the people to show Malé that we are determined that never again to submit to the despotic rule of a government of one family. We wish to make it clear that we have set up a government unanimously elected by the will of the people and a state of 18000 citizens willing and able to support ourselves in spite of Malé. We are now the United Suvadive Islands. Our immediate policy is betterment of our people, friendliness to all countries and in particular to the British who have sincerely helped and guided the islanders whenever we desired to do so in the past.

“We are in favour of the staging post and radio station at Gan and Hittadu Islands respectively, which must bring economic development and prosperity to our islands. We earnestly appeal to your great and generous country and people for help and understanding. We have been inhabiting these islands from times immemorial, possessing thereby inalienable rights over them, the ownership thereof cannot certainly be claimed by Malé.

“We, therefore, appeal to the British Government to kindly grant facilities to open negotiations with a view to conclude a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Her Majesty’s Government and the United Suvadive Islands.

“We hope the British Government and people will appreciate the justice of our cause and recognise the United Suvadive Islands at once.

“Yours truly, Adaran, President, United Suvadive Islands, The Secretariat, Hittadu – USIR.”