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news and comment: Minivan News Dhivehi Observer Friends of Maldives - English from UK Minivan Daily - Dhivehi Minivan radio - Dhivehi Maldivian Detainees Information Award-winning text-only website Reporting Network for Relatives of Persons Detained or Facing Trial in Maldives - English from Maldives
Maldives Culture editorial 20 December 2007 The complexities around BIOT's maritime zones are the product of the actions of the UK and USA in the Chagos archipelago since the 1960s when the decision was made to pretend that Chagos was uninhabited. As long as the jurisdiction of the UK and USA in the Chagos archipelago remains legally dubious, the Maldives should exercise great care in making any binding boundary agreements along its southern EEZ. more
Maldives Culture editorial 17 December 2007 The gang wanted to hold a celebratory street party in their neighbourhood but the home ministry refused permission. Gayyoom personally rang Ahusan and said his (the dictator's) heart was always with Machangoli ward and he would ask the home minister to allow the function after blocking traffic. more
Turning Point (Part 1) Turning Point (Part 2) Farismatula Maldives media The Koli Clan (Part 1) The Koli Clan (Part 2) Corruption (Abdullah Mahir) Backbone's Story (Part 1) (Abdullah Mahir) Backbone's Story (Part 2) (Abdullah Mahir) Backbone's Story (Part 3) (Abdullah Mahir) Backbone's Story (Part 4) (Abdullah Mahir) Backbone's Story (Part 5) Friends of Maldives Friends of Maldives - UK reaction to tsunami Obstruction of Tsunami Aid in Maldives Jaaney's Story
Maldives - Tsunami Refugees (Part 1) Maldives - Tsunami Refugees (Part 2)
People & Power Special: Maldives Rising - 08 Aug 07 - Part 1/4 People & Power Special: Maldives Rising - 08 Aug 07 - Part 2/4 People & Power Special: Maldives Rising - 08 Aug 07 - Part 3/4 People & Power Special: Maldives Rising - 08 Aug 07 - Part 4/4
Religious extremism in L. Gan - Maldives Himandhoo Maldivian Humor and Satire Satirical comment on Himandhoo - Maldivian Terrorists Impersonating Radio Maldives - a 7 minute program in Dhivehi Maakanaa Show Maldivian Music FasyLive - Painted In Black Zero Degree Atoll - Vigani Handha - Rifga.(ehadhan) Hassan Jalaal - Thi Han'dhaanugaa 2007 Fathimath Lubaina Rasheed - 'Bulbul ehee dheynuhey' Trio - Raarukugaa Meyna Hassaan - 'Bokeyo Vaa' Maldivian TV comedy-drama Dhiriulhumakee mee (Vagun) webisode 1 Dhiriulhumakee mee (Vagun) webisode 2 Dhiriulhumakee mee (Vagun) webisode 3 Dhiriulhumakee mee (Vagun) webisode 4 Regime PR production Maldives Year of Productivity 1993 (Theme Song) Maldivian National Security Services (NSS) Golha force training to beat up people!!! Trouble in Paradise, Maldives by Channel 4 - UK YouTube's most popular Maldives video Maldives Exorcism
Aging Maldives Dictator Medically Unfit to Govern: Suffers from Multiple-infarct Dementia Secondary to Microvascular Disease Those who suffer from this condition would be unable to make executive decisions because of lack of functioning neurons and because there will not be adequate brain tissue to process such functions. The Consultant also confirmed that patients with this condition could subsequently have lacunar infarct which are mini-strokes. In this light, he said that it can be assumed that the medical emergency that Golhaabo had yesterday was in deed a stroke rather than a heart attack. more Despite promises, Maldives dictator refuses to accept peaceful democratic oppostion - MDP report 77 members of the Maldivian Democratic Party under police detention or serving sentences in jail 19 July 2006 Eleven MDP members in jail, eight members detained in jail during investigations, and fifty-one members on bail while investigations continue. more (105k PDF) or (255k RTF) Special Report from Reporters without Borders A Vibrant Media Under Pressure: An Independent Assessment of Press Freedom in Maldives July 2006 The Mission found numerous cases of arbitrary arrests, detention, harassment and intimidation of media practitioners. Journalists covering political and social events and demonstrations, as well as the participants in those demonstrations, have been the victims of excessive use of force by the security forces. In all such cases, the security forces have acted with impunity for their actions. The Mission also recorded cases of death threats and verbal intimidation against journalists, both within independent and state media, with the resulting chilling effect on freedom of expression. more (275k PDF) or (740k RTF) Special report from Raajje Foundation Sexual Violence against Women in Detention in Maldives July 2006 This report seeks to bring attention to use of sexual violence by the police and security services against female detainees in the Maldives as well as raise the implications of such violence under domestic and international law. The report is based upon five case studies. These case studies document the use of force or coercion to engage in direct sexual touching, including aggressive squeezing, abusive pat-frisks, kicking in genital areas, groping and prodding. The report also documents guards issuing threats of rape and death, using highly degrading language, highly invasive searches, including anal cavity searches, and inappropriate visual surveillance in showers and toilets. The report concludes there is no effective domestic protection against human rights abuse. The report recommends improving access to international law in the Maldives, so individuals can make complaints to the various committees responsible for the supervision of international treaties, as well as the establishment of an expatriate supreme court to overcome the lack of qualified and independent judges in the Maldives. more (265k PDF file) or (35k RTF file) Graphic video evidence released by Dhivehi Observer 24 May 2006 The Maldives National Security Service (NSS) attack ordered by President Gayyoom on the island of Fares-Maathodaa in January 2006 Download: NSS video of Fares_Maathodaa attack 5 January 2006 - 15.8mg MPEG On 5 January 2006, President Gayyoom ordered his NSS private militia to attack the people of Fares-Maathodaa on Huvadhu atoll in southern Maldives. For days, islanders had been protesting about an eight year delay in completely their harbour, used by fishermen and trading vessels. A shallow section of reef had been left blocking the entrance when the harbour was constructed, so it was only usable at high tide. No official reason was given for this negligence, but it is believed a history of independent voting in elections was the root cause of the delay. On the day of the attack, the island's fishermen were out at sea catching tuna. See also: Maldives Culture editorial 6 January 2006 Maldivian Democratic Party report on the Fares-Maathodaa attack - 114k PDF file
31 March 2006 After weeks of threats and arrests of protest organizers, and decades of bashings, rape and economic and social oppression under the Gayyoom dictatorship, the women of Maldives are refusing to accept anything but respect and equality. more Maldives timeline update for February 2006 added 13 March 2006 President Gayyoom defies the constitution and openly manipulates and intimidates the special constitutional majlis, while the National Security Services commanded by President Gayyoom, and NSS Generals Adam Zahir and Mohamed Zahir, continue to beat, imprison and torture members of the democracy movement. more or PDF version 493K History of Maldives Dhivehi Tareek 1558-1848 16 February 2006 'This translation is dedicated to the modern writers of Maldives, who are enduring intimidation, beatings, prison, torture and exile because they speak and write the truth about their society' 572k PDF Timeline 1900-2006 9 February 2006 PDF version of the Maldives history timeline. A searchable easy-to-read version starting from 1900 through to January 2006. PDF 440k Fahuge Tareek ithuru koffai Maldives History Timeline: Latest Update The alleged 1980 coup attempt, and Cairo flat for Gayyoom, Fathulla Jameel and Zahir Hussein in 1959 7 February 2006 From Gayyoom's authorised biography. more No official Interpol link to Sandhaanu and terrorism arrests, and Minivan radio raid in Sri Lanka Interpol denies acting against Maldives political prisoners and opposition party 6 Jan 2006 Letter from Interpol to Reporters Without Borders more (htm file) PDF file - 165k
Maldives Culture research archive updated 16 January 2005 Essential links June 2005 - January 2006 Full index, text and photos, includes major speeches and recent Minivan News interview; arrest and court appearances; and reactions to his charges by MDP, President Gayyoom, attorney-general Hassan Saeed, and Friends of Maldives. more
12 January 2006 Influential sections of the British press, including The Times, Guardian Observer and the BBC, have treated the boycott suggestion with respect and understanding, and it is likely that increasing numbers of British, other European and Japanese tourists will choose to avoid resorts on the banned listing. more See also: David Hardingham explains the Maldives 'selected' resorts boycott campaign Dhivehi Observer 16 December 2005
Maagoodhoo Residents Relate Harrowing Accounts of Torture at the Hands of Former Atoll Chief Minivan News 11 Jan 2006 For further interrogation, eighteen men from Magoodhoo were taken to Dhoonidhoo, via Nilandhoo. Those were the days when Adam Zahir carried out a reign of terror in Dhoonidhoo. The eighteen men received light and heavy torture there. Ibrahim Fikuree of Mushthareege, the assistant Island Chief was one of the victims. A hot iron was used to burn the undersides of his feet. His feet were burnt and swollen and the skin was peeling. 'This was not enough for the authorities, and they arrested nine more men from Magoodhoo. In addition three women from the same house were taken to Male' and interrogated at the Police Headquarters. The NSS wanted their victims to sign confessions saying that the people of Magoodhoo had conspired to attack Zakariyaa Hameed. No cases were taken to court, and 27 men were banished to different islands of the country. Their guilt was never established in a court of law. more
Lonely night for Maldives finance boss in Maamigili 10 Jan 2006 The crowd went outside and found a man on the street called Mohamed 'Guest' Rasheed – a person well-known for his opinion that the Gayyoom regime is run by a 'bunch of thieves'. He was told that he was now the secretary of Gayyoom's DRP Maamigili branch. more
Soft loans for police chief and chief justice 125 million rufiya (US$10 million) Paid to President's Cronies translation from Adduvas 27 December 2005 The Three Largest Loans: Chief of Police Adam Zahir - three consecutive loans total Rf8 million (US$627,450). No repayments. Chief Judge of Maldives High Court Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim - a single loan: Rf5.9 million (US$462,745). A large part of this loan was repaid by the time the 5 year period ended. On 31 October 2005, the chief justice's debt was Rf800,000 (US$62,745) Abdul Rasheed Hussein - received Rf4.3 million (US$337,254). Partially repaid, and there is about a year before the term of the loan expires. His debt was Rf2.1 million (US$164,705) on 30 October 2005. more
Editorial 6 January 2006 In part, the refusal to clear the harbour entrance was wilful neglect of an area which has historically been treated with indifference and disdain by its Male' rulers. It is also retribution for the islands' independent voting in elections and referendums. The dictator is an ignorant and petty man who loves to punish anyone who refuses to kowtow and beg for assistance. In his mind, even the men and women and children of Fares-Maathodaa on Huvadhu atoll can become a threat worthy of punishment and military action. Amazingly, Gayyoom appeared on Maldives government radio and television several times on Thurday 5 January, denying reports of NSS activity in Fares-Maathodaa that were appearing on the Dhivehi Observer website. By late afternoon, Gayyoom finally admitted violence had occurred. more Nasir's achievements ignored, while historical lies inflate Ameen's reputation - chapter 4 from Iyye, banned in 1997. An introduction to Mohamed Ameen - for those who love truth in history 28 December 2005 According to the two or three people still alive who were politically active in Nasir's time, they constantly receive phone call enquiries from young people asking about Nasir. Face-to-face meetings also result in more questions about how Nasir operated. We receive many calls in this house and young people visit me to talk about those times. All the school children are discovering that this public talk about Mohamed Ameen is untrue. To satisfy personal agendas, Nasir has been smeared with blatant lies. more Intolerance in the name of national purity: the ideology behind Gayyoom's attacks on practising Christians in Maldives Muslim by law - a right or a violation of rights? A study about the Maldives Mr. Fernando’s story gives an example of the way expatriate workers are treated in the Maldives. Mr. Fernando, a Sri Lankan national, who has been working in a private school in Male' for more than 25 years reports how he has been questioned by the police for wearing a cross on a chain under his shirt. His house was searched one night after midnight by the NSS. In Mr. Fernando's bedroom the NSS found some personal items like his Bible, a devotional guide, two rosaries and some Christmas cards. The NSS confiscated all of this. Finally Mr. Fernando was expelled from the Maldives without any charges. In 2004 Mr. Fernando needed a police clearance from the Maldivian NSS because he was applying for a visa to go to the US. The Maldivian NSS refused to give him the clearance. more - 365k PDF file Historians in Maldives have lied about Mohamed Ameen - chapter 3 from Abdul Hakeem Hussein Manik's banned 1997 book - Iyye No independence in the 1948 Maldives-British Agreement 28 December 2005 On 11 November 1995, an article by Hirilandhoo Shathir and Ali Rafeeq appeared in the Haveeru daily newspaper. The article implied that the 1948 agreement brought political independence to the country. In a private phone conversation, Ibrahim Luthfee also said to me that Maldivians began the process of gaining their independence when Mohamed Ameen signed that agreement. Luthfee claimed that complete independence was attained later in the agreement signed by Ibrahim Nasir. In my view, if these writers truly understood the 1948 agreement when they wrote that article, then those two men betrayed history. If they are just imitating someone else without doing any research, then I advise them to discover the truth before they write. more First time in English translation - chapter 2 of Abdul Hakeem Hussein Manik's banned history of twentieth century Maldives - Iyye Ameen's Republic 27 December 2005 At this stage let us ask, what benefits did Maldives receive from this republic? In response to this question, the only answer I have is - nothing! Yes! By establishing a sort of republic, instead of implementing real reforms, the change brought nothing but loss and destruction to the Dhivehi people. If we look at the republic from any point of view, be it religious, educational or economic, it was a total failure. more
Iyye chapter 1 Mohamed Ameen's services to the nation 30 November 2005 Hassan Fareed went missing during March/April 1944. He had completely prohibited mauloodh ceremonies from all the Maldivian islands when he first assumed power. For about eight years the mauloodh was not heard, and then when Hassan Fareed died, Ameen Didi permitted the ceremonies again. Everyone was very happy to be holding the mauloodh again. As soon as Hassan Fareed was gone, Ameen’s first priority was to change the divorce law into a form it has remained until now (1996). The clerics met in the southern verandah of the chief judge's house. At that meeting, it was decided that a husband could divorce his wife any time he wished. more
Iyye - Yesterday When Nasir became Prime Minister on 11 December 1957, Maldivians were still largely unaware of literacy and mathematics. They were an ignorant, silly and stupid people. Since the death of Dhon Bandarain, the way to control the throne of Male' had been through corrupt, dirty, ruthless infighting. This style of politics intensified as time went on. more
Part 5 (final) - Translation of Tareek 20 November 2005 When Moresby came with this letter, the people were very frightened but they said nothing. He arrived on Male' and examined the area; going into the forts and checking them out. The ministers and many of the island people followed him. Moresby investigated the Big Fort's watchtower and climbed to the top of the fort. Then the captain asked to see the king but that was avoided by lies and tricks. Then Moresby measured the length and width of the island and the position of the reefs. The islanders became very scared. more Heroic Warriors and Lazy Kings 1759-1827 Part 4 - Translation of Tareek 17 November 2005 The king left for haj after reigning seven years and 35 days. On the fourth day after he left - on the Monday night - the faction around Ali Velana Manikfan went into the palace and sat him on the royal throne and cunningly made him king. When he discovered this, Mohamed Manikfan the son of Hussein Doshimeyna Kilegefan who was the brother of king Ghazi Hassan, went to the watch-tower of the Big Fort with some supporters and readied the guns. At the time, Velana Manikfan and his supporters were in the palace. When he heard what Mohamed was doing, Velana Manikfan sent a group of people to the top of the New Fort and prepared many guns there for battle more The fall of Male' 1720-1759 Part 3 - Translation of Tareek 16 November 2005 That year, the islands of the Maldives were badly shaken by an earthquake. It was so severe that in some islands the roofs of houses fell to the ground. People were very frightened. Then on a night in February 1731, there was a fire in Henveiru ward in Male'... The Malabaris who remained in Male' used sneaky tricks to intimidate and harass the islanders. The chief judge was Mohamed Shamsudeen, the son of Hassan Tajudeen. This judge was supported as the leader by the Malabaris and they pledged allegiance to him. Later, he and his paternal brother Ahmed Muhiyudeen Kateeb Manikfan were tied up, beaten and tortured. That happened in February 1753. No one knows what happened to the two noblemen after that. It was said they were dumped in the sea. May Holy God bless them; they were good men. The day they were tortured, an Arab named Yahuya was hung on a tree on a sand-spit on Male's western side and killed with gun-fire. From that time on, the area was called Yahuya sand-spit. In the same way, a Maldivian was killed on the east side of the island. more A Disaster in the Making Minivan News 7 November 2005 What has really and truly angered the public is the way that the President has used the national wealth. Gayyoom’s grand lifestyle is that of an Arab sheikh and his family and cronies are millionaires several times over and even now their lifestyle is sustained at the expense of the general public. Even though the statistics published by the government may indicate the income level of the general public to be well above the poverty line it is not reflective of the ground reality. Over 40% of the population live below the poverty line and 8% of the people – Gayyoom’s family and cronies – benefit from the nation’s wealth. more
No room for ethics in Maldives resort Dhivehi Observer 6 November 2005 Island leases, particularly inhabited islands, do not allow wholesale destruction of the environment, and Hilton-Crown's actions in Mandhoo not only offend ancient traditions, but are also likely to be contrary to environmental regulations in Maldives and contrary to the code of ethics that the Hilton company requires from its managers, employees and partners. more Maldives information and links for journalists, writers and reseachers updated 6 December 2007 Major events and international organisation reports 2004-2007 more
Maldives Culture Editorial The result of the ADB partnership with Gayyoom is a weak, depressed country with a tiny overcrowded hub of business and bureaucracy in the capital Male'. A country where the native population is malnourished, while only kilometres away, rich foreign tourists stuff themselves with the best of food. A country that can repair US$100 million dollars of damage to its palatial tourist resorts within three months of a devastating tsunami, but where over 11,000 islanders are still homeless and begging for help while Gayyoom and his entourage tour the world in first class comfort pleading poverty to his foreign bankers and donors. more
Editorial The latest Country Briefing for Maldives from the World Bank website is also a very misleading document that contradicts the World Bank's own findings into the success and failure of its projects in Maldives... The failure of the World Bank to mention and account for the large government expenditures on the National Security Service and its myriad sections, is particularly damning. The bankers are either blind to the realities of Maldives, or are actively colluding with a dictatorship that relies on torture and intimidation to stay in power. more See also: The history of the NSS, 1194-2004
Maldives Culture editorial If banks such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank lend money to Gayyoom then they are arguably financing a terrorist organisation. This may not only be in contravention of the UN International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, but also may be in breach US and UK anti-terrorism laws which deal specifically with such funding more 'the CIA reports 5.5% of GDP, approximately US$41.1 million, is spent on military expenditures' Maldives - Police State A Report from Friends of Maldives Minivan News 21 October 2005 'Reports of gross human rights abuses, including torture and murder, have been levelled at the NSS during Gayoom’s reign. International human rights organisations such as Amnesty International have echoed the demands from the European Union that such abuses must stop, but to no avail. NSS actions during the demonstrations of August 2004 and August 2005 attracted international condemnation for the heavy handed and brutal tactics adopted in suppressing political opposition' more
Minivan News 8 October 2005 'What I think is predominantly wrong is that there is no separation of functions and the President is in charge of everything. For example, he decides whether lawyers can go on being lawyers and appoints the judges and decides whether they can go on being judges.' In particular, Sir Ivan noted that the Attorney-General, Hassan Saeed, appeared to think it perfectly satisfactory that the government would spring new evidence during the course of Mohamed Nasheed's trial that had not even been shared with defense team. He highlighted the case of Jenny Latheef who is possibly facing an 11-year jail sentence also for 'terrorism' but hasn't been told if she is guilty or not over a year after her trial ended: 'For instance, the daughter of a leading opposition figure whose trial was over 14 months ago has not been served a verdict let alone anything in the nature of a sentence.' more The Culture of Discontentment and the 'Haazaa Economy' Dhivehi Observer 7 October 2005 Just look around you and see how these cronies have managed to build skyscrapers and send their children to the most expensive schools and universities in the world whilst the majority is still living in appalling conditions without access to basic services such as education and health. more Maldives Unable to Pay Teachers, Government Employees as Economic Recession Starts to Bite Minivan News 7 October 2005 Opposition sources have been quick to point out that the government asked for over one billion dollars in international assistance immediately following the Tsunami - a figure massively reduced following the UN's joint assessment of the damage done to the country and how much aid Gayoom really needed. The opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) also accuses Gayoom of swandering hundreds of millions of dollars on the military. more
1687-1721 Part 2 - translation of Tareek 5 October 2005 From the time of the sighting of the new moon in Rajab until the end of Ramazan, Hassan Tajudeen was assigned to teach the hadith between the dusk and late evening prayer-times at the Friday mosque. He was paid 100 laari a month. Each Friday, following the afternoon prayer, Hassan Tajudeen would walk through the island streets with his officials and the government floggers. They proclaimed religious laws and banned non-Islamic practices. Anybody seen doing forbidden things was flogged and ordered to abandon their behaviour. If a required prayer was omitted, a person could be summoned to the palace into the king's presence and beheaded by the sword of the sharia. After three Fridays, everybody was attending all required prayers. more
Part 1 - translation of Tareek 29 September 2005 'It was a time when Male's harbour was blessed. Ships came with varieties of merchandise from Acheh, Sri Lanka, southern India, Hindustan and other places. They were given permission to trade but Iskandar himself did not take part in business matters. There was no prohibition on anything people wanted to trade. The cargoes were not checked on the king's behalf because there were no import and export duties. The treasurer and foreign minister were treated just like the other lords and had to keep away from the foreign traders' more
The Preface 27 September 2005 The viewpoint of historians is that history changes as people's perception of events changes. For this reason, true history can be accurately written only by eye-witnesses. However, this method is not without its own problems and controversies. In the past, people usually wrote history about governments and kingdoms, and ongoing events were linked to these official institutions. Sometimes these records contain information that rational minds find difficult to believe, but it is possible that the people who wrote these histories were just trying to tell an interesting story... Miguel Cervantes, a respected Spanish writer, says of history: 'Historians must be fair, honest and objective people. They should not abandon the truth with an emotional reaction to events. History is the mother of all activities. It competes with time and is a treasury of important events, and the witness of the past. History provides examples and lessons for the present and a telescopic view of the future.' more
26 September 2005 Maldives is yet to enact an access to information law and has struggled to crack down on poverty and poor governance more Maldives leading Internet technician arrested on fake charges after refusing bribe from Gayyoom Minivan News 23 May 2005 Ismail Faiz, known as PH, was approached by the authorities on previous occasions to spy for them on the internet activities of reformists and dissidents. They offered him Rf10,000 (US$782) per month in addition to the salary he receives from Dhiraagu. PH is not a businessman and neither does he come from a high class family with lots of wealth. To get Rf10,000 per month was a flattering offer but he was a man of conscience and he refused to cooperate. more Over 38,000 Maldivians tortured during rule of President Maumoon Gayyoom 8 May 2005 Maldives now has a population of almost 350,000, which means more than 10% of the population of the country has experienced torture during Gayyoom's presidency. To put these figures in perspective, a similar rate of torture in UK would mean over 6 million victims; in India over 100 million; in USA over 29 million; and in Australia or Sri Lanka over 2 million victims. These comparisons give some indication of the level of terror and trauma inflicted by Gayyoom on Maldivians. more Gayyoom Plays the Clown as MDP Takes the Initiative first published in Minivan News 4 May 2005 Nobody believes Gayyoom, even the NSS is getting bored with their commander's charades, but for his corrupt business supporters it must have been heartening to see a bit of fight left in the old despot. Nasheed's return will bolster morale among the party's representatives in the Majlis, where people like Male' member Ibrahim Ismail have been detailing the hidden torture practices Gayyoom uses to control Maldivians. more Police Chief Adam Zahir threatens MDP leader Mohamed Nasheed first published in Minivan News 29 April 2005 The hate-site article did not mention that the Attorney General has recommended the removal of Adam Zahir by Maumoon Gayyoom because the police chief, who acts solely on Gayyoom's orders, is the main obstacle to legal reform in Maldives. Gayyoom has also been pressured by foreign governments to remove Adam Zahir and Abdullah Hameed (Gayyoom's brother and Minister of Atolls) from their positions. more Friends of Maldives victims of Gayyoom plot first published in Minivan News 30 April 2005 Updated 6 May 2005 David Hardingham was first warned six weeks ago that Gayyoom was plotting in Trivandrum against the Maldivian Democratic party leader Mohamed Nasheed, and trying to link him and his foreign associates like David Hardingham to extremists. more Maldives appoints top spy and torturer as ambassador to India originally published in Dhivehi Observer 22 October 2004 State Minister for Defence and National Security and deputy Commander-in-Chief of the NSS, Anbaree Abdul Sattar was second in military ranking only to Gayyoom until 1 September 2004 when he received diplomatic status. For 26 years he was a vital part of Gayyoom's secret punishment and torture practices, and he became actively responsible for the overall administration of all NSS functions. more Ibrahim Ismail pushes torture issue in the Majlis from Minivan News 15 April 2005 During the debate in parliament yesterday, Ibra passionately described the abuse he and others suffered in jail following the 13 August crackdown by the authorities on a peaceful pro-democracy rally in Male'. He pointed out that government media claimed that he and other pro-democracy detainees were traitors while they were being tortured. more Playing the Religious Card first published in Minivan News 21 April 2005 During Ibrahim Nasir's rule, a Christian evangelical programme was broadcast in English every night from Voice of Maldives radio. The Maldives government was paid to allow these shortwave broadcasts which were intended for India and Sri Lanka as well as Maldives. Most students attending English medium schools in Male' regularly tuned in, but there were no conversions. In 1972, a Christian missionary ship MV Logos visited Male' and school students were shown aboard with the blessing of President Nasir. The students received free Bibles but once again, no one converted. more Rape and Torture in Maldives and the role of Isthafa Ibrahim Manik from DO 13 October 2004 The relationship between Maumoon and Isthafa was much closer than Gayyoom's relationship with any of his cabinet ministers. Adam Zahir has critically commented to his officers about the intimate relationship between Isthafa and the president. Normally, cabinet ministers receive instructions from Gayyoom through executive secretary Shahid or state minister Mohamed Hussein, but Gayyoom contacted Isthafa directly and because the president might phone him anytime, Isthafa always kept his mobile phone switched on. Sandhaanu has been told by a close associate of Isthafa that if Maumoon rings, Isthafa would answer the phone even if it meant interrupting his prayers. more Abbas Ibrahim - a career of propaganda, intimidation and dirty tricks in Maldives from DO, 29 Oct 2004 Maumoon Gayyoom and his senior supporters all carried pistols when Gayyoom took his first oath as President at midnight on 10 November 1978. Abbas proudly displayed his own pistol to friends. 'We were ready for war that day,' he later admitted. Abbas used his new powers as a Gayyoom operative to take 'immediate action against those he felt had wronged him in the past,' Colton writes. 'He bluntly said to the aging father-in-law (Mohamed Kaleyfaan) of the ex-president, the father of the daughters Abbas had wanted to marry, 'Now that we have the power, we can do anything we want. And I want to have you cut up into little pieces and fed to the crows.' more July
2004 - October 2004
December 2003 - June/July 2004 Maafushi prison torture and shootings, and Male' riot: Events and aftermath 19/20 September - December 2003 July - August 2003 |
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