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News Archive May 2003 - June 2003 It was only Iyye Family history book banned in Maldives 'After nearly three years of research, and eight months' preparation, the book was thoroughly vetted by the Public Examinations Department of the Ministry of Education, and granted a permit to publish on 19 May 2003'...[more] Email prisoners questioned over Sri Lanka escape Amnesty International report condemns continuing detention of Sandhaanu writers and distributors in Maldives 'sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of 'insulting' the President, calling for the overthrow of the government, causing hatred against the government, spreading false news, and circulating Sandhaanu via e-mail...[more] Trade Ministry condemns unlawful trading with tourists by islanders near resorts 'people have set up street stalls with folding benches and similar furniture, and are selling imported souvenir items'...[more] New Links Corruption cheats consumers in the Sri Lanka fishing industry Mahinda's fishy business Expatriate Lankans in Maldives donate Rs. 235,000 for the Flood Relief Fund The meaning of loyalty for public administrators in Maldives 'Our loyalties should be with a system designed to advance the people's interests within a framework of justice and fairness'...[more] New Links Expanding horizons for Yemen 'Indian Ocean' by Irena Knehtl 'The Arabs accepted that the world was round – encompassed in an ocean, then air, then fire, another ring of air and a final ring of fire. They also recognised an invisible sense of unity steaming from the trade network and sea-based political alliances'...[more] A sound beginning Small fry follow the noise 'Nocturnal fish are especially raucous. They use sound to stake out territories and stay in touch. 'There's a fantastic crescendo at dusk, similar to birdsong'...[more] Luthfee update Escaped political prisoner weak from torture injuries 'Luthfee says that in desperation he wrote to President Gayyoom from his Malé hospital bed and asked for an investigation into the torture at Maafushi. His letter was ignored'...[more] Ali Adam Manik arrested Sheikhu Rasheed roams free Maldive money financing sect differences in the country, says Islamic Supreme Council president 'Enemies are attacking on three fronts'... Comment: ''Manik might be crazy, but for President Gayyoom to arrest him is even crazier'...[more] 'Reformed' Maldive criminal procedure law puts defence lawyers under NSS control 'A lawyer can even find himself charged over his interview with the accused... If this new procedure law is any indication, the US is being cleverly deceived by its Maldive associates'...[more] New links Mohamed Nasheed - new English publication Maldives, a historical overview of traditional Dhivehi polity 1800-1900 'Educated in Maldives and United Kingdom, Nasheed's prose is quite sharp and surgical in approach. His investigative drive and his relentless search to uncover the often-illusive fabric of Maldivian society, give hope for the students of Maldivian history and culture'...[more] Hoanu secrets Lizards help adhesive design 'Inspired by geckos' toes, a new super-sticky tape is so strong that it can stick a person to the ceiling by just one hand'...[more] Photos Fua Mulak's new harbour Maafushi island brutality creating 'explosive situation' in Maldives says escaped political prisoner 'Prisoners taken after disturbances on Naifaru island in August 2001 were tortured with fire at Maafushi and forced to sign confessions... No extradition treaty exists between Maldives and Sri Lanka, but Sri Lankan citizens are regularly removed illegally to Malé NSS headquarters'...[more] Ibrahim Luthfee – article and translation archive 'Several readers have contacted the editors asking for information on the escaped Maldive political prisoner, Ibrahim Luthfee. Here are links to Maldives Culture's extensive archive of articles and translations based on Luthfee's experiences'...[more] Ibrahim Luthfee escapes – Maldive political prisoner disappears from Colombo hotel during medical treatment 'Later I learned that because of President Maumoon Gayyoom's state visit to Colombo on 6-9 May, my trip was put on hold. Maumoon decided that I should be sent to Sri Lanka only after his visit, because he was aware that the media in Colombo would question him about us (the Sandhaanu prisoners) and other Lankans back in jail in Maldives'...[more] Ibrahim Luthfee archive Index and links to our archive of Ibrahim Luthfee articles and translations New Links from maldivesroyalfamily Shia traditions in Maldives Mauloodh for Muhammad 'On the stroke of midnight everybody with one accord lies down at full length with his face to the ground, and so remains for a space of time. Then of a sudden the chief judge or the island chiefs stand up, and all the rest of them, and set a-leaping upon each other as they were madmen or lunatics'...[more] Legal woes for the curious Second Degree Apostasy 'Someone asked him "are you a Muslim?" to which he angrily replied "no!". The man was convicted for apostasy and sentenced to be flogged in public. Interestingly the person who asked the question was also convicted and meted out with the same punishment'...[more] Atoll Office goes feral in Faafu Part 1 Office move blamed on God and lack of money, says Atoll chief 'Zakariyya Hameed said that when the government decides to do something, people always want to know why. He would clearly explain the reason to them and they should listen carefully'...[more] Part 2 Magoodhoo islanders punished after jealous husband assaults atoll chief 'about 350 men and women had gathered on the beach. As the three Magoodhoo men came off the dhoani onto dry land, all these people surrounded them and began throwing sand and stones, and shouting abuse at them'...[more] The elder statesman of Maldive history, banned writer Abdul Hakeem Hussein Manik, reveals the background to the food shortages that killed half Maldives' population during the rule of Hassan Fareed and Mohamed Ameen The story of 20th century 'famines' in Maldives 'Hassan Fareed and his wife, and the guards, went to Colombo by train. They spent sixty thousand rupees buying a property consisting of four hills and a garden with a beautiful small house on one of the hills'...[more] The story of 20th century 'famines' in Maldives Part 2 Mohamed Ameen and the failure of the First republic 'As (Ibrahim Waheed) Sidi's hand was about to be cut off, Velaanaage Ibrahim Didi suddenly fainted where he was in the forest in Hulhulé island. He lay on the ground until he regained consciousness, and people believed he had collapsed because he was humane and kind'...[more] A tradition of violence The early history of the Malé militia 'fourteenth century ruler Queen Rehendhi poisons two husbands who lay claim to her throne, and after each murder, her return to power is affirmed by a formal gathering of the two Malé militia regiments'...[more] New links Maldive Numbers 'The original Maldive counting system appears to be decimal (base ten) but at some stage in history a duodecimal (base twelve) system was superimposed over this and survived until the early part of the twentieth century when the decimal system was restored to common usage'...[more] Photography of Amu 'Here you will find photos from various countries and from a range of topics and subjects. You will also find cool products, and travel opportunities to Maldives. This site is for anyone who loves photography'...[more] Hail the King! The Lion Throne Coronation Proclamation 'Teachers, callers to prayer and readers of the sermon! City dwellers and wayfarers! Dignitaries and commoners! Minors and adults! Women and men! All you subjects hear this, witness this and understand this!'...[more] Government-imposed barriers to media freedom in Maldives 'Mohamed Shaheeb, a journalist working for Haveeru, was arrested and jailed because of a story he published in Haveeru named Kuda Golhi (Small Cell). The story is about a young girl who is abused in a jail in India. Even though the story is set in India, the government felt that the story had too many parallels with a Maldivian girl named Sudha who was arrested for drug abuse and imprisoned. Sudha died in jail after the police allegedly gang-raped her and tortured her while she was ill'...[more] Section 29 Amendment strips Maldive magazines and newspapers of publication rights 'Registered newspapers and magazines that have failed to publish three consecutive issues shall be cancelled'...[more] Reporters Without Borders links Maldives Government changes press law and cancels 22 publication permits Le gouvernement modifie la loi sur la presse et annule 22 licences de publication Sad times for Maldives President as Saddam's statues fall 'the NSS received several shipments of weapons from Saddam Hussein in the early 1990s... All the guns were covered in dried blood'...[more] Link from maldivesroyalfamily.com 'This is a landmark victory over rogue states in a largely rogue region. Our hope is that more will follow'...[more] Obituary for Meedhoo Azi Veteran torture victim dies 'In the early 1980s he began questioning the regime's sincerity. During an annual budget debate Meedhoo Azi asked for more details about proposed expenditure for the presidential household and the National Security Service (NSS). He was arrested and charged with sedition, and remanded in the Dhoonidhoo detention centre, just north of Malé'...[more] BBC report Maldives defends prison terms 'The Maldives Government says the four were "tried in open court, and like anyone else, had the right to be represented and assisted by a lawyer and had the right and opportunity to appeal their cases"...[more] Archive February 2003 - April 2003 top

Maldives Culture is an independent internet magazine of Maldivian cultural issues.
Editors and translators: Michael O'Shea and Fareesha Abdulla, Australia
We invite contributions from Maldivians and others interested in Maldives.
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