Article archive July - August 2003
The Diamond Jubilee Presidential referendum
'One solution to this morass is to
activate political opposition to this regime from a foreign country where opposition
members can freely assemble and publish their views, and where they can legitimately
produce their plans and ideas. The pressure they create should enable the beginnings
of a truly democratic process' more
Repression of peaceful political opposition in Maldives
Amnesty
International report
30 July 2003
'provides information on arbitrary detention of
government critics and their continued imprisonment before and after convictions
in grossly unfair trials. It also highlights a pattern of torture and
ill-treatment, and serious flaws in the criminal justice system' more
Amnesty
blasts 'holiday paradise'
BBC News 31
July 2003
Holidaymakers
warned of paradises lost
The Independent
U. K. 31 July 2003
Maldives
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Magic
Commission procedures
- no problem for students
'The report
on the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka contained some misinformation' more
Cheers and Fears on Maldives Independence Day
2003
'The annual handshaking contest
went well too. Maumoon and First Lady Nasreena tried for a record, but
visitor and dignitary numbers were down. Islamic dictatorships aren't
attracting the party crowd anymore' more
Controversy over US holding children at Guantanamo
Miadhu translation
'Whether
people believe it or not, the truth is the US is the most ill-disciplined,
cruel, merciless and inhuman country in the history of the world. Those
who see the US as the epitome of civilisation are those who believe that
civilisation is a matter of big buildings, beautiful suits, revealing
dresses, indecent songs, and films. They are ignorant people, who do not
know what civilisation is' more
There Were Three Of Us
Flash cartoon with sound, from politicaltoons.com
'An evil dictator shouldn't speak about his feelings.
I maim and cause pain, don't make me too appealing' more
'A crab once bit me on the butt'
The seawall - Malé's new lovers lane
Haveeru 31 July 2003
'And it is not only lovers who inhabit the seawall at night; many married couples do, the reason being that there is little or no privacy in their congested homes. Most households in Malé are now partitioned by wooden boards which hardly stifle the noise or the sounds that may be coming from the next room. On top of it, children are forced to sleep in the same rooms as their parents because of lack of space' more
Respect for the dead
Uday and Qusay victims of assassination conspiracy
'The endless efforts of the people of Iraq to gain
independence will continue. Fear and haunting is the fate of the Americans
and their allied forces' more
Red tape for the living
Maldive
High Commissioner in Sri Lanka makes life complicated
'The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs is making living conditions difficult for
students and other Maldivians in Sri Lanka, by implementing these complex
policies and strategies' more
Once upon a time
Raaveri
Moosa in Malé
'Moosa looked up and found his forty friends had returned. He asked them to care for his sister so she didn't hurt herself, and then he reassured her.
'I haven't committed any crime, so don't worry. With no crime there can be no punishment' more
Soap cleans up culture?
Hindi soap operas clawing into Maldive society
'It is noticeable that the bad effects Hindi soap operas have on our lives, outweigh any good they bring. Although soap operas bring more public awareness about different issues, it not advisable to spend free time watching these dramas' more
Dhon Keyothi episode in 8 languages
At Guerry's Mexican satire site (scroll down for translate option) El Cadillo – Humor Politico
Original Keyothi episode
Fanditha Inc. – a meeting with the Blood bodun
The earth moves for Maumoon
'In June, an old and significant mango tree in the front yard of the Malé presidential palace fell down in a sudden storm, smashing an official plaque into five pieces' more
Faasigu magu
Belief provides the power of certainty to the heart
'If an appropriate solution is not found to these problems then it is very likely that in the coming days and years people will face huge and grievous disasters' more
Malé principal guides school to the top
'One of the most successful principals in Malé, he has been able to achieve a great name for a school which caters for disadvantaged children who have come to study in the capital from the atolls' more
Bare breasts and burugaas
Veiled women in Maldives
Majid Abdul-Wahhab, maldivesroyalfamily.com
'Back then, people were more sensible in terms of what they wore in a humid and hot climate. Ibn Batuta was able to force his Maldive wives and slave girls into an upper garment and the veil, but these unfortunate women were heckled and jeered at on the streets' more
Democracy in Maldives: Liberal or Illiberal?
'Maldives needs a system of checks and balances designed to prevent the accumulation of power and the abuse of office. This should be done not by simply writing up a list of rights, but by constructing a system in which government will not violate those rights' more
Reader's response
Illiberal democracy – now what?
'I'm not so sure most Maldivians really want human rights. Seems to me that most people are more interested in getting 'a bigger piece of the pie', and if religion helps them get a bigger take, then bring on the burugas' more
2003 kurimagu fahathah 1997
Banning scholarship in Maldives for 'peace and harmony'
'In a small society like the Maldives, such malicious attacks as found in the book can only undermine social harmony and stability that we cherish and need so much in order to sustain national development. Under anarchy and chaos, how much freedom of speech can there be?' more
Humanity please
Maldives under alien control
'In other countries where humans are ruling, politicians and other officials can be criticised and brought to justice if they break the law, even while they hold power!' more
