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Security of Small States
NSS safeguards Human Rights
International training
Security of Small States
The preservation of the security of small states is a cause President Gayoom has championed since his first major international speech on the subject at the New Delhi summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1983.
He spoke then on the growing danger of international mercenaries being deployed to perpetrate acts of international terrorism and subversion in many small countries.
He has frequently stated that the Maldives supports those states which press for the adoption of measures by the international community to bar recruitment, financing, training and deployment of mercenaries. Maintaining the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace, in keeping with a United Nations resolution is part of this concern.
NSS vessel, Meedhoo island
Addu atoll, 1996
President Gayoom has pointed out at international meetings that small states are no longer remote and unaffected by what goes on in the rest of the world.
At the Non-Aligned summit held in Harare in 1986, he spoke of the need for enhanced co-operation and support from the international community to overcome the special problems faced by small (island) states. He sees the ripple effect of economic disaster as a very real threat to the security of small states.
The Maldives tabled the draft resolution on the Protection and Security of Small States adopted at the UNGA session in 1989, 1991 and 1994.
As a spokesman for the Group of Eminent Persons at the 1994 conference in Barbados on the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States, President Gayoom outlined some of the problems.
He followed this with an address to the Islamic Summit Conference in Morocco the same year, highlighting the concerns of small states.President's official site 2001 top
'There are no political prisoners or prisoners of conscience in the country. Allegations of arrests without charge, unduly delayed trials and torture of prisoners are entirely baseless.
The allegation that presidential elections are taking place in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation is totally unsubstantiated and untrue....
The Government of the Maldives takes human rights protection very seriously. Independent observers have attested to the progress achieved under President Gayoom's leadership over the past two decades in the protection and promotion of human rights in the civil, political, social, economic and cultural fields. The new Constitution which came into force at the beginning of this year further strengthens the rule of law, enhances the protection of civil liberties, and safeguards due process of law.
As a constitutionally elected government accountable to the people, committed to democratic practices and espousing the principles of the UN Charter and obligations therein, the protection of the fundamental rights of the people of the Maldives is a primary concern accorded very high priority by the Government of the Maldives.Press Release by the Maldives High Commission in Sri Lanka and UK, 1998 top
'... very close military cooperation. The United States has military facilities nearby [a US Naval Base is located south of the Maldives in Diego Garcia] and we benefit from this proximity by having training exercises.
From time to time, US instructors come in to give training to our Special Forces--which we try to get from a number of friendly countries.
Basically we don’t have a big defense threat. But the world is full of surprises. Especially since international terrorism has become such a menace to everybody and drug traffickers have armies that are stronger than the armies of some sovereign states.
We should be prepared for these kinds of threats. The main purpose of getting our training from different sources is to become familiar with various technical experiences. So the training for our national security services is always being updated to face the kinds of international threats we all face, whether we are big countries or small countries.
And that carries across to intelligence as well. We share information with agencies that are involved with narcotics so that we may be prepared and know what is happening, especially in matters of terrorism.
So our joint military program is basically focused on exposing ourselves to how other countries and organizations work. We have seen the benefits of these types of contact on many occasions.Foreign Minister Fatullah Jameel in Washington Times, 8 Dec 1999
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Critics:
NSS - political police
Beating and torture on Gan island, Addu
Amnesty International - Maldives report 2000 (this page)
Need for separation of powers of police and judiciary
Extract from Amnesty International report 1998
'... they think nothing can be done to them by public. The same thinking by Abdul Hanna Haleem when Ibrahim Nasir ruled the country.
Nothing has changed in our legal system specially in regard to so-called Political detainees.
Adam Zahir 1988 |
Did you hear the latest. Gogo latheef, Umar Jamaal and Abdul Hannan been taken to by the Terror gang of Maumoon Abdul Gayyom. Their crime as usual unknown and no lawyer or relative can visit them unless Maumoon commands his Terror leader Adam Zahir other wise. Adam Zahir is the most trusted gang leader of present time like Mohamed Alee in the days of president Nasir...
In the Maumoon Islamic law " Unless proven innocent you are guilty".Dhivehi Forum posting, 24 Dec 2000 top
'One of youngsters from Fua Mulak has been beaten so severely that he is now handicapped (this was commited by the police of NSS).
With no apparent reason he was falsely convicted of theft and taken to the radar station of Addu [Gan island], where he was attacked on all parts of his body.
He was naked, and they use high pressure water pipes and attacked with their shoes and he spit blood and now he is handicapped.
While he was beaten a phone-call came and said he did not commit theft.
It was a mistake by police, and the police apologised him.
It was the wrong person. First, according to Islam the person must be fully responsible and he must be purely convicted... Dhivehi Forum posting, 24 Jan 2001
Related Link:
International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims
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Amnesty International
Maldives report 2000
As in previous years, the government failed to provide credible information about the situation of political prisoners. Despite Amnesty International's efforts, there was no contact from the government. There were continued reports of torture and of official cover-ups to protect the perpetrators.
Background
Parliamentary elections were held in November amid reports of suspected irregularities. Political parties were not allowed to function.
Lack of government response
The government remained silent about the situation of Richard Wu Mei De, a Chinese national detained without due process of law since November 1993 at the instigation of a Maldivian national whom he tried to sue for irregularities in a business partnership; government connivance in the detention was suspected. His detention was declared arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention.
Political prisoners
Possible prisoners of conscience continued to be held. Among those believed to be held were Hussain Shakir, Ibrahim Nusthafa and Mohamed Rasheed, reportedly detained since early 1996 in connection with a demonstration about electricity price rises on Fua Mulaku Island.
Political prisoners were detained on the prison island of Maafushi, in Dhoonidhoo detention centre and in police stations. They reportedly included a parliamentary candidate detained after an argument with a rival candidate with links to the government.
Ten people from Faafu Magoodhoo were banished, reportedly without being tried or sentenced, for seeking to organize a demonstration against the local Atoll chief.
Health concern
There was continued concern about the health of Ismail Saadiq, a businessman arrested in June 1996 for alleged fraud, who was reportedly denied medical attention. In June, for example, he was transferred to Dhoonidhoo detention centre where he was reportedly held in a small cell, denied appropriate food, and prevented from receiving a scheduled blood transfusion. Three weeks later he was transferred to house arrest, reportedly after he fell ill and after he had signed a declaration that he would not seek contact with the outside world. Ismail Saadiq continued to claim that his prolonged detention was politically motivated. During his trials, he was reportedly not allowed to appoint a lawyer and was denied adequate time or access to documentation to prepare his defence.
Ill-treatment
Information emerged indicating that many inmates in Gamaadhoo prison were subjected to various forms of ill-treatment after a fire which burned down the prison. According to reports, security guards beat some prisoners who were tied to palm trees. A former detainee at Dhoonidhoo stated that prison guards regularly beat prisoners, at times on orders from the senior warden. Amnesty International report, 2000 top
We must have strong institutions in place that will do their constitutional duties without interference from the Executive.
The Legislature and Judiciary must be fully independent so that their main objective must be the protection of the RIGHTS of the people. These rights must encompass the freedom of thought, the freedom of expression, the freedom of movement, the freedom of education, health, fair trials etc, etc,.
What is of utmost importance is the seperation of powers so that there is less collusion in the system of governance.
See, there are areas where there is obvious collusion, that is for the benefit of the people leading the system.
A good example is Isthafaa Ibrahim Maniku. He is Executive Director/Director General of the Ministry of Defence and National Security and is also head of the Department of Corrections (Prisons), which runs under the Ministry of Home Affairs and Social Security.
By law, there can be no jails under the Police. However there are. Everyone nows about this.
The reason that the two functions were separated in the first place must have some reason behind it. The logic remains that there must be separation of powers for a system to work fairly.
Now the situation will be: you may be arrested for some offence and taken to police, your offence will be investigated by the police whose top official is the same guy in the defence department, then your matter is sent to the court where you are sentenced and the same guy who sent your matter to the court through the Attorney Generals Office in the first place again has jurisdiction on the execution of your sentence from court.
I can remember some time where earlier, the system was changed and there were two different officials in charge. But unfortunately for a short period of time.
I just can't understand why these things arer being done so blatantly. Where is the apparent fairness in the system? Who thinks or cares about these things?
I am sure Gayyoom will be very much aware of these goings on. How do you expect a man to be fair and equal in front of the law, when what the laws seek to avoid is taken up by the Executive?
The problem is, we are a passive people, we leave things to fate. We always think the Iraadhafulhun kan kan rangalhu vaane. We leave a lot for God to solve for us. WE are not pro-active. We don't think in those terms. And there are so many reasons for that.Dhivehi Forum posting, 17 April 2001 top
Amnesty International is calling on President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom -- who has already served four consecutive terms in office -- to declare a clear and unequivocal commitment to restoring and upholding human rights. He has now been nominated by the Maldivian parliament as the sole candidate in presidential elections.
Election preparations are taking place in an atmosphere of fear and intimidation which may prevent the country's intellectuals from voicing their opinion freely. Political parties are not allowed to function and the government deals severely with any expression of political dissent. The parliament and judiciary also appear to be prone to heavy influence from the executive.
Dozens of political opponents have been placed under house arrest or taken to detention centres in recent years for prolonged periods without trial. Some of them are prisoners of conscience.
Even when political prisoners receive a trials they do not conform to international fair trial standards. According to reports, in some cases prisoners are not even present in court when the verdicts are announced. Some are only informed of the verdicts through their relatives who approach the authorities for clarification.
Prisoners continue to be held in conditions that in many instances amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Cells are small, hot and overcrowded, and lack adequate sleeping space.Amnesty International report, 1998 top
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