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Maldives island revolt over satellite TV reception prompts amphibious assault by police and troops
by Michael O'Shea,
20 August 2001

NSS in Malé, April 2001 Photo: Haveeru online news

One hundred and fifty armed Maldivian police and troops have occupied the island of Naifaru in Lhaviyani atoll after islanders resisted government attempts to ban community sharing of satellite TV transmissions.

At the beginning of August the Ministry of Arts and Culture ordered two private individuals on Naifaru to cease sharing their reception.

One of the men, with the backing of many islanders, refused and complained about the poor quality reception of the government station broadcasting from the capital Malé.

Two policemen stationed on the island could not control the situation and a team of fifteen officers from the National Security Service (NSS) training camp at the adjacent island of Madivaru moved into Naifaru to arrest the offender.

Naifaru street scene

His 6 year old son grabbed his father's legs during the arrest and pleaded with the officers to release the man.

Reports from the island say the child was kicked by one of the officers, knocking his head. The young boy is said to be still in a coma. His father was taken away.

Relatives and other members of the community complained to the island chief and the atoll chief who are related through marriage to the President's younger brother Abdulla Hameed.

Hameed is the speaker of the Maldivian parliament, the Minister of Atolls Administration and chairman of the Bank of Maldives.

The islanders also raised the matter with the Children's Unit under the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Social Security. The government took no action regarding the issue and the islanders say the NSS are 'untouchable' in the Maldives.

Enraged islanders damaged the walls protecting government offices, and a van used during visits by high ranking government officials was vandalised and dumped in the sea.

A team of 30 NSS officers dispatched to the island was unable to land when faced with a barrage of stones.

On Friday 17th August, 150 police and troops moved towards Naifaru in landing craft and coastguard vessels.

They were instructed not to use their weapons, and found themselves confronted by a crowd of women and children who prevented them from landing. Electricity on the island was turned off and the NSS was unable to occupy Naifaru until sunrise the next day.

Most of the government buildings on the island were damaged during the disturbances and the NSS and other officials are now operating from the Bank of Maldives premises.

Meanwhile the Ministry of Arts and Culture has moved technicians onto the island and over the weekend reception of TV Maldives has been improved to Malé standard.

All reports of these disturbances have been suppressed in the government-controlled Maldives media.

Zipped version of this report available here

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