The Man Of All Islands

Male’ NSS fort attacked at 4 a.m. by Sri Lankan mercenaries led by Abdulla Luthfee and Sagar Ahmed Nasir. The attack is co-ordinated by three of the mercenaries, Vasanthi, Farooq and Babu. Despite attempts by the rebels to disrupt communications, the telephone system functions throughout the attack. Gayyoom rings the US ambassador in Sri Lanka for assistance and is told Washington has decided the Indians will act.
Lacking public support, the rebels seize hostages including the then minister of transport Ahmed Mujutaba and his Swiss wife, and Ismail Naseer. They leave Male’ harbour aboard a government ship, Progress Light. That night, India lands 1500 paratroopers in Hulhule’. At sea, Progress Light is captured by the Indian navy, with six dead from the ship. 19 Maldivians are killed in the coup attempt, including eight members of the NSS.

Alleged plot to use British mercenaries (former members of the British Special Air Service, SAS) to capture NSS headquarters in Male’. Gayyoom later says he was warned of the plot by Koli Ali Umar Manik in a phone call from Singapore. Alleged leaders of the plot are tried in February 1981.

Russians offer US$1 million to Maldives for use of Gan base by their fishing fleet. President Nasir calls the only cabinet meeting held between the end of March 1977 and November 1978. At that meeting, the Russian offer is rejected.

Ibrahim Manik, Abbas Ibrahim and Maumoon Gayyoom are arrested for ‘treacherous talk’. Gayyoom has claimed that selling alcohol, a mainstay of the tourism industry, is against Islamic law. Gayyoom placed under house arrest.

British queen Elizabeth II visits Maldives. Ibrahim Nasir awarded the KCMG.

British agree to return Addu to Male’ control by the end of 1963 and Abdulla Afeef and his family taken to Seychelles aboard HMS Loch Lomond.

British attempt to restore Addu to Male’ rule but large violent demonstration in Gan rejects any change.

In Male’, Borah traders banned from doing business in Maldives. Permission to trade was first granted in 1857. Koli Umar Manik (Nasir’s business advisor) and others benefited from the subsequent exchange rate changes. The Borahs had to barter their property before they left.
Large peaceful demonstration in Gan, Addu atoll, against Male’ government rule.

British award KCMG to king Mohamed Fareed.
Lord Mountbatten describes the Gan airstrip as the best in the Commonwealth.

Addu atoll formally establishes Republic of Suvadive headed by Afeef Didi in Hithadhoo. Huvadhu and Fua Mulak atoll are also nominally part of Suvadive, but the British give protection only to Addu atoll.

British are granted a 30 year lease for Gan island and the Mamendu area of Hithadhoo island, and unrestricted lagoon access. Agreement confirms the sultan (king) of Maldives as the sole head of state, and reaffirms the ‘UK government’s desire and concern to promote an early reconciliation between the inhabitants of Addu atoll and the government of his highness the sultan.’
British withdraw Cheshire regiment from Gan.
Male’ government receives a ‘special grant’ of £100,000 from UK and a further £750,000 for specific projects.
Addu republic writes letter to Male’ agreeing to accept sultan of Maldives as head of state in Addu.

Ibrahim Nasir personally leads armed expedition of hundreds of men aboard the Maldive Star onto Fua Mulak and Huvadhu atolls. Thinadhoo island attacked and homes of Hirihamaz and his son Abdulla are sacked and their large gold holdings are confiscated. Mass arrests follow, and many are tortured to death in Male’. Hirihamaz and two of his sons are believed to be among the dead.
On Thinadhoo, the Male’ militia occupy the island, close the schools, restrict food supplies and terrorise the islanders. Women are raped.
Abdul Hameed Didi dies in Colombo.

British begin construction of military base on Gan island in Addu atoll, southern Maldives, before Maldive majlis has ratified the agreement. The company Richard Costain Ltd moves heavy machinery into Addu. Cabinet ministers defy Ibrahim Ali Didi and refuse to sign the agreement with the British High Commissioner.
Estimated cost of project is 2 million pounds. Two year contract awarded to Costain Ltd.

Without consulting the majlis or cabinet, King Mohamed Fareed and Prime Minister Ibrahim Ali Didi sign a initial agreement with British to accept 2,000 pounds for a 100 years lease for an airfield in Gan island on Addu, and a Radio Communications Station in Hithadhoo.

British give Mohamed Ameen 300,000 pounds sterling. Money is compensation from the Japanese for the families of the victims of the sinking of the Addu ship Yahunbarahu during WW2. The vessel had been owned by Ali Didi, the son of Elha Didi. Only two people escaped death on this odi, Mohamed Manikfan of Sikage house, and Ibrahim Didi, the son of Abeya. These two were imprisoned in Singapore by the Japanese after the odi was gunned and sunk. Later, when the British recaptured Singapore they were sent back to Maldives with clear details of the ship’s accounts handed to them by their British rescuers. Mohamed Ameen summoned them to the Home Ministry and ordered them to hand over the documents they’d received. Mohamed Ameen kept the money and ignored the victims’ families.

Mohamed Ameen visits Addu. In Male’, he has listened to Buchaa’s version of events. Enemies of Afeef’s family in Hithadhoo are also capitalising on the situation; accusations of threats and black magic rites against Hassan Fareed combine with rumours of letters between the British and Abdulla Afeef discussing Addu’s possible succession to Britain. Afeef has formed friendly relationships with the British, and when Ameen demandeds to see all correspondence, he interpretes Afeef’s reticence as a sign of guilt. Abdullah Afeef and other members of his family and friends are taken to Male’, convicted, tied prostrate face-down on the ground and publicly flogged with a long rod of several bound rattan canes. Chilli powder is poured into their open cuts, leaving life-long scars. The men are then exiled to other atolls for years. Afeef is exiled for seven years.
Regarding the suggestion of regular inspection visits to Male’ from Ceylon, the British governor wrote on 26 July that ‘the government of the Maldives is extremely sensitive in regard to such measures and would not welcome the suggestion.’

British Royal marines land on Addu atoll to establish secret Port T base. They establish coastal batteries, searchlights, signal towers, roads, camps and jetties for a naval base.Within three months, nearly a quarter of this group have to abandon their work due to sickness.