Torture in tropical paradise II – the torture begins

Editorial
Torture in tropical paradise II – the torture begins

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe’), 9 March 2005

A 28 year old man has died whilst in custody under suspicious circumstances in Maldives today. Muaviyath Mahmood was arrested on 4^thof this month for a drug offence. He has been arrested before but his mother has stated that he was not a heavy drug addict and that when he was arrested, he was a healthy man.

Sources from within the family have confirmed that they are confident that this was not a natural death. In addition to that, many people had a look at the body to see if they could find any marks or injuries. Photos reveal that he has a clotted red eye (right) and scratches near his nose. Family sources have also confirmed bruises on the side of his body. More photographic evidence is expected to prove these allegations.

Dr. Ahmed Shaheed today gave a statement saying that “He was JUST a drug addict” as in, it is not a big deal, after all we need to kill them. This kind of inhumane expressions goes to show how much his boss, the Dictator cares about his people. The man was taken in for interrogation and placed in the notorious Dhoonidhoo Island Prison and 5 days later he is dead.

Muaviyath might not be the model citizen but he was just a year old when Gayyoom came to power. Over the past 27 years, Gayyoom has very successfully increased the number of drug addiction in Maldives. In 1977, there were only 3 reported cases. Gayyoom came to power in 1978 and within 20 years the number increased to 460 cases (1998), which is a staggering 15,333%. The number now is in thousands. Hence, if anyone is to be blamed for the drug addiction in Maldives it must be none other than Gayyoom.

On September 19^th, 2003, Evan Naseem was beaten to death by Gayyoom’s security forces which was followed by 3 more deaths and dozen injured on 20^th September 2003 when police shot them in Maafushi Jail for protesting against the killing of Evan Naseem. 8 of the 12 killers of Evan Naseem were sentence to death only 24^th February 2005 and now we are faced with another similar case. More death sentences are expected for the people who shot the inmates and injured others. Evan Naseem’s death has been justified by regime propaganda by saying that he was a drug addict who deserves to be killed.

“So long as Maumoon is in power the Maldives will see nothing but injustice and people will always have tyranny. This man is a great tyrant.”
Mariyam Manik, 24 Feb 2005

Today, we have another so called drug addict murdered in custody. This really is unacceptable in 21^st century and someone must be held accountable for this. The parent of this man is scared to speak to people today despite the pain and anguish they are going through for loosing a child. A drug addict or not, Muaviyath Mahmoodh is a human being who deserves justice and humane treatment.

The country is in mourning over the repeat of the kind of brutality we witnessed in September 2003. Nevertheless, the heartless Dictator has dismissed any allegations by saying that the man in “JUST another drug addict!”.

Evan Naseem’s mother said only a couple of weeks back when 8 people were given death sentences for the brutal killing of her son “So long as Maumoon is in power the Maldives will see nothing but injustice and people will always have tyranny. This man is a great tyrant.”. She could not be more right!

The people of Maldives must rise up to the challenge and free themselves from this tyrant now. There is no other way.