Maldives
2001
Maldives |
| 2001 |
| The Opposition |
 Mohamed Nasheed 'Anni' |
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| Background Writer and Editor The Banning of Sangu Amnesty International report. 1996 Mohammed Nasheed, a freelance journalist, and an assistant editor of the newspaper, Sangu - which is now banned - was sentenced to two years' imprisonment by a court in Malé on 3 April 1996. He was reportedly tried under section 38-B of the country's penal code for comments he made about the 1994 general elections and the 1993 presidential elections in an article entitled: "Maldives Elections: Country faces most closely-fought polls ever " published in a magazine in the Philippines. He was arrested on 30 November 1994 on his return to the country from Nepal where he had attended a conference and was detained for eight days. He was then formally charged and released. Hearings in his case stopped in May 1995. The authorities imposed restrictions on his movement but the court sentence was not announced. His passport was confiscated by the authorities and he was not allowed to leave Maldives. He was arrested again on 27 February 1995, apparently on charges of contempt of court after he had refused to leave the court premises unless the judge issued him with a passport to leave the country for a short trip abroad. He was reportedly sent to Dhoonidhoo detention centre for a short while. On 3 April 1996, he was summoned to the court and was informed of his sentence. He was taken into custody and then to Gaamadhoo Prison where he is currently held. Mohamed Nasheed has been arrested several times before. He was arrested on 24 November 1990 after he had written an article on corruption in government which was published in Sangu and a Sri Lankan newspaper. He was taken to Dhoonidhoo detention centre, which is on an island a short distance from Malé. He was held in solitary confinement for 18 months there, and was finally sentenced on 8 April 1992 to over three years' imprisonment for withholding information about an alleged conspiracy to explode a device at the SAARC conference - a charge he denied. In addition, he was sentenced to four months for talking to unauthorised people while under house arrest; and six months for endangering the peace and stability of the country. It is believed that these latter two convictions related to interviews he gave to foreign journalists during which he criticized the government. He appealed against his sentence but in May 1993 the High Court rejected his appeal. He was, however, released from the prison in Gamadhoo Island in June that year. After his release, he continued to report on press freedom and political developments in the Maldives. In October 1994, he and another man, Mohamed Latheef, applied to the Home Ministry for authorisation to form a political party. The government turned down their application reportedly stating that because the Constitution does not allow for political parties, permission cannot be granted. Mohammed Nasheed's recent trial did not conform to the international standards for a fair trial. Although he had access to a lawyer, he was reportedly denied the right to be represented by him in the court. The court reportedly issued a notice to him in December 1994 stating that "because of the nature of the case, use of a lawyer in court was not to be granted yet". Amnesty International report. 1996 BANNING OF NEWS MAGAZINES |
Fans: New Party application Trying hard Powers of Arrest Bill 'Historic declaration of a united opposition party is under way in the Maldives. Official papers have been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Thursday the 1st of March 2001. Among the 43 peoples who have requested to register this party were people from the business community including the heads of the Maldives National Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Parliamentarians, journalists,lawyers and some of the young and western educated top government officials.' I am one of them, but they didnt submit that until today. Dhivhei Forum postings, 10 Mar 2001 Yes, it was true that some 43 people have signed the understanding to declare this party. 'Anni is one who is trying his level best and trying to see some sense in this mega-disaster that your hero and his regime created in this country... You fail to understand the basics about human relationships, politics, and the modern mind.' Dhivehi Forum posting, 5 Nov 2000 '... the Monday night [Majlis] meeting was banned for the public.' Dhivehi Forum posting, 20 Dec 2000
'Was Monday the day they were supposed to talk about the 'powers of arrest' bill brought up by Mohamed Nasheed? Was that the reason there was a ban for the public?' Yes, it [the 'powers of arrest' bill] was discussed on the night of the 13th [Dec] and then the followup was to be on the 18th to which the public was not allowed. The 13th night debate on that bill was very hot where the Speaker personally by words attacked Mohamed Nasheed and his few supporting members.' 'In the closed door sessions only Mr Afeef from Thaa atoll supported. Sheikh Ibrahim Zakariyyaa's personal attack on Mohamed Nasheed was so great that in fact he said the bill will support terrorism in the Maldives and it is unIslamic. What Zakariyya is doing, is it Islamic?..... When and if Zakariyya is taken under police custody he will realise the importance of the bill.... |
Critics:  Sri Lankan mercenary Malé 1988 Some illiterate butchers were brought here by sea, they killed everyone, even their own leader Vasanthi, looted the shops of your precious businessmen, and couldn't open a dam gate. Then they took hostages, killed the Imam of the Grand Mosque, killed early morning joggers and shot anybody on sight. Anni still defends them.' Dhivehi Forum posting, 25 Sep 2000 'You have to look into the corruption of one parliamentarian Mr. M*****d N*****d.... He cannot be accepted as a role model. I have seen him recently riding his uncleaned bike without respecting the traffic rules of this country.... |
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All information on this page was collected from the internet and other media. Edited by Michael O'Shea and friends mc_editors@hotmail.com |