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Updated:
07/05/2008 03:12:08
News &
Reports
October 2004
MAIN -
SEPTEMBER 2004 -
AUGUST 2004 -
JULY 2004 - JUNE
2004 - ARCHIVE
Previously
News In Brief
Saturday 30th October
2004
Minivan Radio
Attorney general Hassan Saeed unfit for office, says
Ibrahim Luthfee
The government has been scheming
carefully to make the most effective cases possible
against innocent people. That is why charges have been
delayed, Luthfee told Minivan. The reformers are
lawyers or have legal advice, and they are refusing to
sign false statements, he said.
read more
 Naube'
- the art of suffering
The extraordinary
tale of Naushad Waheed (Naube') - one of Maldives most
talented artists
Friends call him Naube' and he is
best known for being an outspoken critic of President
Gayyoom, but Naushad Waheed, 41, is one of the greatest
painters and illustrators in Maldives.
Naube's family has experienced many years of abuse at the
hands of President Maumoon Gayyoom. In 1979 only a year
after Gayyoom came to power, Naube's late mother, Aishath
Manike, was summoned by the National Security Service
(NSS) for telling a friend that she preferred former
President Nasir to the new Gayyoom. This harmless
expression of opinion was understandable, given that
Naube's father Hassan Manik worked for former President
Ibrahim Nasir for several years.
Gayyoom was furious and banished Aishath Manike to a
remote island with a one month old baby, Naube's youngest
sister. Naube himself was sixteen at the time. Even today,
the family remember this cruel and needless banishment of
their mother by Gayyoom.
read more
Friday 29th October 2004
|
 |
| Director
Nazeer, Sunland Group, has been in solitary
confinement without charge for 56 days, since
28 September 2004 |
|
Local News
Infighting
between acting Tourism Minister Ismail Firaq and Attorney
General Dr. Saeed over Vilivaru-Biyaadhoo resort bids
Male' - A fierce row broke out yesterday between acting
Tourism minister Ismail Firaq and Dr. Saeed the Attorney
General with regard to the re-evaluation of the Biyaadhoo
resort bid, which was recently granted to Sunland company.
It is believed that Gayyoom has instructed Dr. Saeed to
re-evaluate the bid and award the island to late bidder
Mr. Ahmed Zahid (Six-X), a cousin of Gayyoom.
It is believed Ismail Firaq heavily influenced the outcome
of the awards, and since one of the directors of Sunland
group is currently in custody after Black Friday 13
August, Gayyoom wishes to punish the whole group.
Furthermore, Gayyoom's brother Yameen wants the resort
awarded to one of his 'boys' rather than someone else.
'Mr. Nazeer's alleged involvement in politics is going to
cost the group millions,' said a friend of the brothers
who own the fast-expanding and efficient Sunland.
Local News
Harins Hannan and Moosa
Rameez arrested
Male' - Police have arrested Harins Hannan (Waitheyo) and
Moosa Rameez today, according to confirmed reports. Moosa
was released from detention last week after more than 65
days in custody.
It is believed they are were arrested because they are
preparing candidate applications for the coming general
Majlis elections on 31 December 2004. Gayyoom is not
allowing any known reformists to take part in the
elections.
Although campaigning before the declaration of the
candidates by Election Commission is against the law in
Maldives, Gayyoom's friends and family are being allowed
to campaign freely in the islands.
Abbas Ibrahim, current member for Huvadhu Atoll South is
campaigning there. There are many similar reports about
government ministers doing the same thing.
Gayyoom's brother Hameed, the Atolls Minister, has
threatened some islands that they will suffer economically
as well as physically if they fail to support and elect
government candidates. This is a clear indication that
Gayyoom wants to control the outcome of the election and
ensure the Maldives Majlis parliament remains just a
'rubber stamp' for orders from the President's Office.
Local News
 Gayyoom
forced to release more reformists
Several key members of the reform movement were released
early this morning. They include Husnu Al Suood, Hussain
Rasheed, Firshan Zahir and Ahmed Adam.
read
more
The new
speaker of the Special constitutional Majlis
Abbas Ibrahim - the bear with long claws
'Now that we have the power,
we can do anything we want. And I want to have you cut up
into little pieces and fed to the crows.'
read more
The nation
and Islam
Maumoon Gayyoom and
Nationalism in Maldives
The Maldives health and education
systems are under-funded, while the National Security
Service has money to waste on all sorts of horrible things
and Gayyoom darts from one luxury hiding-hole to the next
like a golden kakuni.
read more
Thursday 28 October 2004
 The
culture of institutionalized torture in Maldives
Torture: " Any act by which severe pain or suffering,
whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted by
or at the instigation of a public official on a person for
such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person
information or confession, punishing him for an act he has
committed or is suspected of having committed, or
intimidating him or other persons." - Customary
International Law of Human Rights under which a State
violates international law if, as a matter of state
policy, it practices, encourages, or condones torture or
prolonged arbitrary detention.
read more
Wednesday 27 October 2004
Local News
 Hon.
Adhil to be charged and removed from the Constitutional
Assembly
Hon.
Ahmed Adhil, Special Majlis member, will be charged with
criminal offences for participating in the Black Friday
demonstration on 13t August 2004, according to sources at
the attorney general's office.
Adhil's case will be processed quickly because he has
become a problem for Gayyoom. Adhil is the nephew of
Health Minister Aneesa Ahmed, and he has made it clear
that his aunty being a top government minister does not
hinder or discourage him from proceeding with his proper
duties and responsibilities.
Adhil holds a Master of Business Administration and is one
of many capable young politicians emerging in Maldives. He
went to the Republican Square with other members of the
constitutional assembly such as Qasim Ibrahim because they
were asked to go there by senior government officials to
control the crowd and negotiate with them.
Adhil was summoned by the NSS on 27 August 2004, two weeks
after the demonstration ended, and he was transferred to
Dhoonidhoo Prison immediately and kept in solitary
confinement for 47 days. Adhil was released on 9 October
2004.
Adhil is also among the 23 MPs who walked out of
parliament on 19 July 2004 in protest against the actions
of then Speaker of the Majlis, Gayyoom's brother Hameed,
who had insisted on a show of hands election for the
constitutional assembly speaker's position instead of a
secret ballot as stipulated by the constitution.
No ballots
for breakfast
My First
Experience of GAYYOCRACY
At
around 8.30am that day, our new voters went to the polling
area. The person in charge asked us to give our names. He
went through a list and put a mark next to our names. Then
we were asked to go home after having a hearty breakfast
of milk tea, boiled eggs and bananas.
We
enjoyed the breakfast, but I swear to God, we never saw
any ballot papers.
read more
 Minivan
Radio Program 12 uploaded
Special Announcement :
From 31st October
2004, Minivan Radio will be broadcast on a new frequency
of 11810 Khz (11.810 Mhz) 25 Meter Band
click to listen to Minivan Radio
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni)
threatens Gayyoom with UK torture cases, if reformers
charged in Maldives
'Maldivians are now entitled to lodge
a UK claim of torture against torturers in Maldives,'
Nasheed says. 'Someone accused of torture in Maldives can
be tried in a UK court if the claim is made in the UK.'
'A Maldivian accused of torture in a UK court can be
arrested if the accused person arrives in London. If that
person visits another country where the UK has signed an
agreement allowing exchange of criminals and accused
people, the UK government can ask for that person's
extradition to UK.'
read more
News in
Brief
Big Ears for NSS snoops
 We
have received credible reports that the NSS has recently
imported Cellular Phone
Interception Systems to the Maldives.
These units are
described as "an advanced GSM monitoring,
listening and recording system designed to intercept GSM
cellular traffic. It is the most sophisticated and
advanced state of the art equipment of its kind. It is
custom made to certain specifications according to
the cellular system in your country." The units
are sold only to governments and law enforcement agencies.
"The GSM Cellular Monitoring System
is an advanced OFF AIR monitoring system designed to
intercept and track all cellular traffic, within a city or
region operating according to GSM standards. The system
tracks up to 1000 simultaneous conversations and provides
voice monitoring and call information display, at a
central monitoring station."
The systems are priced at $420,000
each.
The Maldivian Constitution clearly
states that letters, messages and other means of
communication are inviolable. Article 20 of the
constitution says, "Letters, messages, telephonic
conversations and such other means of communication shall
be inviolable. Such letters, messages, telephonic
conversations and other means of communication shall not
be intercepted, read, listened to or divulged except as
expressly provided by law."
The use of this system, without
constraint, by the NSS contravenes the constitution and
the law of Maldives.
Read more about the systems
Tuesday 26 October 2004
News in Brief
Rules of Procedure bog down Gayyoom's special 'family'
Majlis - democratic reform still a dream
The emasculated Special constitutional Majlis met in Male'
last night at 9pm for the first time this Ramadan. It was
decided at the meeting to have a 25 member committee to
draft the rules of procedure of the Special Majlis. The
election of the 25 members will be held tonight. An
earlier Special Majlis that prepared the current
constitution for 16 years from 1981 to 1997, did not have
a rules of procedure. Everything was run according to the
whims of the ruling elite and Gayyoom himself, and that
situation continues today.
This procedural manoeuvring is designed to remove the
focus from the important issue at hand - real
constitutional reform. Government insiders report that
Gayyoom wants the constitutional power to appoint a Prime
Minister and ensure that his one of his family members is
the future President.
Gayyoom has failed to convince Maldivians he is acting in
the national interest. The NSS attack on Male' and
opposition leaders and supporters during 2004 has
convinced Maldivians that Gayyoom rejects all meaningful
democratic reform. This belief was reinforced when his
brother-in-law Abbas Ibrahim and his nephew were elected
by a few days ago as speaker and deputy speaker of the
Special constitutional Majlis. This election by show of
hands was contrary to the constitution's specific
instruction that all important elections be held by secret
vote.
Last night's
meeting started at 9pm and went on late till 12.30am.
Tonight's session is expected to start at 9pm.
Maldives appoints top spy
and torturer as Delhi ambassador
Anbaree Abdul Sattar has operated his
own intelligence network for years within the National
Security Service (NSS) on behalf of President Maumoon
Gayyoom, and there is no reason to suppose his network has
been dismantled.
Anbaree's move to Delhi places a senior NSS spy in the
middle of the region's most important diplomatic
community. Many Maldivians believe Anbaree is unfit for
public office, and his appointment to this prestigious
position is an insult to Maldives' largest neighbour.
read more
Reading material
Al-Tawhid
A Criticism of the Idea of Arab
Nationalism
Dr. Muhammad Yahya
The Arab nationalist writings place a high value on their
`independence' slogan. This has been their battle cry
against the `Uthmani State and it has been raised against
the occupying foreign powers in the Arab countries. It is
the main element in their political outlook and a constant
part of their propaganda.
read more
Monday 25 October 2004
Gayyoom
threatens Maldives with another State of Emergency
Since the announcement of tomorrow's visit by Commonwealth
Secretary General Don McKinnon to the Maldives, locals
have been organising a peaceful demonstration, hoping that
Gayyoom will hesitate to use his NSS against the people
while McKinnon is in the country. Gayyoom's public threat
of another State of Emergency is directly linked to the
planned opposition gathering.
read more
Minivan Radio broadcasts
spread hatred and contempt, claims Gayyoom
Over the last six years Gayyoom had enjoyed an average
budgeted expenditure each day of over Rf419,000 or US$32,000.
(The daily wage rate for a relatively well-paid Maldivian
is Rf100 or US$7.82, based on monthy pay of
Rf3,000.) This year, 2004, Gayyoom has a personal budget
of RF186 million or US$14.6 million. This means his daily
expenditure is nearly RF510,000 or US$40,000.
read more
Sunday 24 October 2004
Databank - Not for
Circulation
Regional Development Project 1- Report
Business
Development Workshop.
Gan, Addu Atoll
27th-29th March 2001
List
of Donors to the Maldives - Capital Investments
Check out the "Atoll
Vote Projects"!
Public Sector Investments Allocated Programmes 2004
Public Sector Investments Unallocated Programmes 2004
Saturday 23 October 2004
Newly Formed Maldives Police
Sinks to Gayyoom's Dirty Politics
The Powers that be in police had ordered not to be serious
in Crime related matters but to concentrate more in
arresting reformers and stop gatherings etc. As a result
the public is confused as to what needs to be done after a
robber is caught. Do you hand over the thief to the police
or do you take justice into your own hands?
read more
Friday 22 October 2004
A matter of pride:
Compensating the victims of torture in Maldives
There is also the matter of
compensation to the victims whose lives have been ruined
by criminal orders from Gayyoom, Isthafa Manik, Ilyas
Ibrahim and senior NSS officers. It would be unfair to
expect that the Maldives treasury, which has been looted
by Gayyoom and his associates, should also have to bear
the cost of this compensation. It should be paid by the
same people who ordered the torture.
read more
Thursday 21 October 2004
Submission of the
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) to the
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group's meeting, 25th
September 2004
CHRI brings to the attention
of CMAG the lack of democracy, rule of law and respect for
human rights in the Maldives, a situation that clearly
contravenes the Harare Principles.
In particular, we draw attention to recent events in
Male', the capital of the Maldives. On 13 August, 5,000 -
10,000 people gathered peacefully outside the national
police head quarters demanding the release of political
detainees and democratic change. In response, the
government used police force to disperse activists and has
declared a state of emergency. Around two hundred
pro-democracy activists have been arrested, including
high-profile members of the Special Majlis (citizens
assembly). There are concerns for the health and safety of
those detained amidst reports of beatings and torture. At
the time of writing some of those arrested remained
incommunicado.
read more
The reasons for torture in
Maldives
When Gayyoom met Adam Mynott from the BBC after the
September 2003 riots in Male', he privately assured Mynott
that he knew nothing about the torture occurring in his
jails. This was a bare-faced lie. Gayyoom visits the NSS
HQ early every morning when he is in Male', and he isn't
there to discuss the breakfast menu. With his fellow
senior officers, he decides who will be arrested and
tortured and how it will be done.
read more
see also:
America's tortuous road to
Abu Ghraib
NSS police
place illegal notices on
reformists' house doors
Political detainee Ibrahim Ismail has been placed under
house arrest after being imprisoned, tortured and poisoned
in Dhoonidhoo jail for 68 days without any charges being
laid. Under Maldives law, the public notice of his house
arrest is invalid and the NSS are acting in breach of the
criminal code and presidential decrees regarding arrest
procedures. Below is a translation of the illegal notice.
Scroll down for the original Dhivehi version. Similar
notices have been placed in other houses as well.
News in brief
Commonwealth Secretary General to visit Maldives on
26th October
Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon
will visit Maldives on October 26. This visit will be of
significant importance to the reform process and it is
believed that he will be spending 2 days in the Maldives
prior to visiting India.
Commonwealth Secretary General has been quite concerned
about the situation in the Maldives and a Commonwealth
Parliamentarian Group was in Maldives this week who met
with several reformists who were being held
in Gayyoom's torture chambers in Dhoonidhoo and Maafushi
Island.
It is encouraging to observe Commonwealth
playing an active role in bringing peace, freedom and
democracy to member nations.
It will be a great opportunity to express
our views to the wider-world. DO has information that
local groups are now looking into organising a
pro-democracy demonstration on the day of his arrival.
Wednesday 20 October 2004
Reformists are placed under house arrest - Updates on
the release of Reformists from Gayyoom's torture chambers
Latest Updates >>>
Eye witnesses say that police are arresting people
taking pictures whilst guarding the houses of detainees
such as senior MPs.
- Qasim Ibrahim placed under house arrest.
- Ibrahim Hussain Zaki has been told that he is released.
Hon. Zaki is in IGMH hospital.
- Ibrahim Ismail released and has arrived home. A notice
has been placed in Ibra's house that he is under house
arrest. Police still in the house.
Detainees are warned by Gayyoom that they must not talk to
anyone even family members about their detention and what
has been done to them. Gayyoom must think that he is GOD.
Breaking News from Maldives
Addu atoll : People gathering near Fit Aero Sports Centre
in Hithadhoo Island
Confirmed reports are coming from Addu atoll that people
are also gathering in the heavily populated island of
Hithadhoo to show their support for reform and to
celebrate the release of their member of parliament Dr.
Munavvaru.
People are gathering in Republic Square in Male, but NSS
police using force to block off the area
Male' - As news of the release of political detainees
spread through the capital, several hundred people have
gone to Republic Square near the NSS headquarters.
However, the NSS police are reportedly being harsh and
using force to send people back. The area is cordoned off
now.
More prisoners are being brought to Male' and released.
People are also reportedly gathering near Qasim Ibrahim's
house.
Breaking News :: Male'
Black Friday detainees are being released
Male' - Several Black Friday detainees are being
released, including the Members of the Special Majlis.
Unconfirmed reports say that all detainees are being
released to meet a deadline of 12:00 noon 21st October
2004.
So far Mr. Ali Shiyam of AAA Group and Dr. Munavvaru have
been released. Public was gathering near the Republican
Square to greet the detainees but police have blocked off
the area now.
It is reported that the police had announced to the crowd
that Qasim and others will be released tonight and to meet
them in their homes. Earlier this evening, DO got news
that some members called home to give the good news to
their loved ones.
Human Rights violated under the regime of
Gayyoom
The International community must act now
against the human rights abuses at the hands of Gayyoom's
brutal associates. The abuse of power is a daily practice
of this regime. For international community it is
essential to monitor these abuses and bring those who are
responsible to justice. It is also essential to go beyond
this and start asking questions as to the possible causes
of such abuses.
read more
Scientists hail dengue breakthrough
Dengue fever is endemic in Maldives. Australian scientists
working in Vietnam have made a breakthrough in preventing
this sometimes deadly and always debilitating
mosquito-borne disease.
read ABC report
also:
Queensland Institute of Medical Research - Dengue Fever
Tuesday 19 October 2004
 For
real reform, the reform meetings must go on
On the 9th June 2004, President Gayyoom
launched his democratic reform programme. Since then,
pro-democracy meetings have been banned, peaceful rallies
have been brutally suppressed and pro-democracy activists
imprisoned and tortured. The Maldives has become markedly
more authoritarian and markedly less democratic. To
Maldivians and international observers alike, the reform
programme rings hollow. Allowing reform meetings would be
a real step to get it back on track.
read more
We Have a Dream!
W hen
we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every home,
from every island and every atoll, we will be able to
speed up that day when all of the Maldivians, poor and
rich will be able to join hands and sing in the words,
"Free at last! Free at last! Thank Allah, we are free at
last!"
read more
Local News
Concern over the Health of MDP Spokesman Latheef
Mr. Latheef was taken ill yesterday. He was having chest
pain and breathing difficulties. He has been working round
the clock and that could have brought it about.
Furthermore, as any Father, he has been very depressed and
sad about the continued detention of his family member,
especially his daughter Jennifer Latheef. He puts on a
brave face but who will not be hurt when their family are
kept as hostages of Gayyoom and his Police Dogs. We wish
Latheef a quick recovery.
DEMOCRACY MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY
'Happiness not only depends on economic factors but also
on how well developed democracy is. The study's main
finding establishes political participation as an
important determinant of citizens' well-being.'
read more
Asian Human Rights
Commission - Urgent Appeals
 The
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received
information that political activist Mohamed Yoosuf was
illegally arrested by the police in Maldives on 13 August
2004. Mr. Mohamed Yoosuf was put in solitary confinement
at the Dhoonidhoo Detention Facility after seven days of
his arrest and he has now been there for 53 days. His
family reported that he has been frequently tortured while
in detention, and ill treated. The victim cannot access
his family or lawyer, and nor can be access any physical
and mental health facilities.
read more
Monday 18th October 2004
 Gayyoom
arrests Nazeer Jamaal again
Once again, Jamaal has upset the dictator. Last time he
was donating books; now he is walking on public Male'
sand. What can he say in his own defence to his NSS
interrogators? Probably something like: 'Maumoon thinks
I'm dangerous so I must by harmless, right?'
read more
Teaching English in Maldives: a plan that worked
The professionalism
of the Sri Lankan and Indian English teachers was
recognised and they were allowed to exercise their own
judgment in their work. The relationship between the
department's teachers became one of collaboration. The
practice of teachers informing on each other and engaging
in bitter personal disputes ceased to be encouraged in the
English department.
read more
Sunday 17th October 2004
Local News
Gayyoom's NSS police says people have 'no right' to
assemble
Nearly 500 people
gathered around the Tetrapod Squareby 10:30 pm tonight to
show their defiance of Gayyoom's rule. However, Gayyoom's
NSS security force came to the square and ordered the
crowd to disperse. The crowd explained that they had every
right to assemble as it is enshrined in the constitution.
However, police said that their order was to disperse the
crowd and that the public had no right to assemble without
permission from the government.
This is a perfect example of Gayyoom's total disregard for
the constitution of Maldives. When the public challenged
the police saying the constitution gave them the right to
assemble in public places, the police said 'forget about
the constitution, go home, that is an order'.
Police arrived at the square around midnight and the
number had grown substantially. Head of Police, Minister
of Home Affairs Umar Zahir was also constantly cruising
through the crowd.
It is reported that more than 8 police vehicles came to
the square and arrested two protesters. Furthermore,
reports are coming that they are looking for Mr. Nazeer
Jamaal, former Presidential candiate.
As seen in the photo, people sat quietly and peacefully on
the seawall at the Eastern Corner in the Tetrapod Square .
Gayyoom is crazy to want to stop people expressing their
views (and stop them from thinking) when members of their
families and friends are held in detention in
contravention of the rule of law and tortured and raped.
He cannot make Maldivians accept that he is God. The
people of Maldives hate him and want him out. More people
are expected to turn up at the square tomorrow night and
even more on Friday for the weekly 'bash' that is now
being planned. Gayyoom's security forces will have to
block off the area if he does not want people to go there.
'Peaceful protest must be allowed and the constitution
must be upheld,' said Ali by telephone. "We will defend
our constitution even if we have to sacrifice our lives.
'Maumoon is a dog, and we want him out of our country or
behind bars,' said Ali in an angry voice.
 Please
go to Tetrapod Square (Lonuziyaaraiy Kolhu) tonight
and every night at 10:30 and demand justice. Stand
up for your rights. We must be united and strong.
Fear no one but Allah. Demonstrate against Dictator
Gayyoom with courage and determination.
|
Local News
A young women commits suicide by plunging to her death
from 6th
floor
Mariyam Najeeb, a young woman, jumped from the 6th
floor of a building and killed herself reportedly after
breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. The incident
occurred early this morning and some details have been
published in the local media despite family requests not
to do so.
Maldivians must learn from these tragic incidents, and
ensure that similar events don't occur again. It is
customary in Maldives to discuss personal problems with
friends but it is important that these matters are
discussed with family as well. Furthermore, if a problem
keeps on getting worse it is important to seek
professional help. Whether it is a relationship problem or
financial, it is important to discuss it with friends and
family. Although there aren't many practising
psychiatrists in the Maldives, any doctor would be able to
help and offer guidance. Doctors and councillors must show
sympathy to their troubled patients and try to ensure that
these vulnerable in the society are given full attention.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Mariyam and
we hope that this lesson remains in our memories so that
we can all try to stop any such tragedy from happening
again.
Dhivehi Observer would like to send its deepest sympathy
to the family on behalf of the editorial board and its
readership during this very tragic time.
Gayyoom robs Maldivians of
their religion
Yet again Maumoon Gayyoom
has performed one of his pseudo-religious stunts and tried
(unsuccessfully) to mesmerize the masses into believing
that the political mess he has created in this country
(and the grimy, stinking legacy he is going to leave
behind him) is all for the good of the people. The
manipulative opportunist that he is, he used the occasion
of the beginning of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting,
to drum his political agenda to the public.
read more
CONFIDENTIAL - Not for Circulation
Developing Education Master Plan (2006 -
2015)
The new Master Plan shall
address the critical issues of consolidation amid the need
for quality, sustainability of the educational system. In
so far to achieve this purpose, a two phased initiative is
proposed. First phase will consist of a sectoral review.
The purpose of this review is to indentify the key issues,
problems, difficulties, achievements of the current
educational system, especially at the school level.Second
phase is the development of the new Education Master Plan
for 2006 to 2015. The process of developing the Master
Plan will provide the vision, mission, goals and
strategies for the education system.Services of one or two
international education planning specialists will be
employed through consultancy arrangements in every stage.
The consultant(s) will be responsible for carrying out the
following activities. Ministry of Education will assign
local counterparts to work with the international
consultant(s) in carrying out the activities.
read more
CONFIDENTIAL - Not for Circulation
MALDIVES
: Integrated Human Development Project
The
Maldives Beneficiary Impact Assessment study (henceforth
referred to as BIA) supports the Integrated Human
Development Project (IHDP). The IHDP, implemented by the
Ministry of Human Resources and Labor, Maldives,
aims to improve
social service provisions and economic opportunities on
some focus islands in an ecologically viable concentrated
section of select atolls in the North and South Central
Regions. These focus islands (FI) will become centers
offering people an alternative to Male, the capital
region.
read more
Saturday 16th October 2004
Local News
Reformists begin gathering at Tetrapod Square
(Lonuziyaaraiy Kolhu) in Male'
More
than 200 reformists gathered around the square tonight
after the announcement on Dhivehi Observer. Police
presence was heavy but reformist just sat on the seawall
and discussed politics and the need for unity.
According to one of the members of the group, police were
showing up every now and then and because of that many
were scared. Nevertheless, it is believed that more people
will gather and that this will become a mass demonstration
in a very short period of time.
More people are planning to gather in the square this
coming Friday.
People are still scared of the police and the treatment of
police on Black Friday is still very sharp in their
memories.
We want Gayyoom to block SMS, telephone communication and
other medium, even internet because we will use these
means to alert people to gather in the square.
 Sad
story of a destitute family in Maldives
Father is
mentally disabled the children can't even afford school
books
'I have dresses,' she said and opened a cardboard box and
she took out four dresses and showed us her favourite red
one, but even that was torn at the bottom. They don't have
a wardrobe. They don't iron their clothes. They use oil
lamps although electricity is available in the island.
read
more
Public
Announcement
Reform Gatherings must begin now
We must defend our country
from the tyranny of Maumoon. Please go to Tetrapod Square
- Eastern Corner of Male' every night and show your
support for freedom and liberty. Peaceful gatherings will
take place every night from 10:30 pm. Remember Article 25
and 26 gives us the right to do so. Gayyoom will be
breaking the law and undermining the constitution of the
country by banning any such peaceful protests. The
international community will be alert to the developments
in the Maldives. People must unite to save our nation from
the claws of Dictator Gayyoom and his family. The
constitution must be amended in consultation with the
people of Maldives and not according to the wishes of the
Dictator. A united people is the only way to influence the
outcome of the reform process. Lets not let the Dictator
to decide our future. Show your solidarity and demand
justice for those who have risked everything and are
suffering for the sake of our beloved nation. Similar
gathering shall be organised in each inhabited island at
the same time as well. This show of unity will yield the
desired results in no time.
"Verily never will God
change the condition of a people until they change it
themselves."
-
Quran 13:11
Constitution of Maldives Article 25 & 26 - Freedom
of Expression and Association
25. Every citizen
shall have the freedom to express his conscience and
thoughts orally or in writing or by other means,
unless prohibited by law in the
interest of protecting the sovereignty of the
Maldives, of maintaining public order and of
protecting the basic tenets of Islam.
26. Persons shall be free to assemble peaceably and
in a manner that does not contravene the law.
|
MDP Newsletter 22 Released
Education
News
Parents on
Feydhoo island asked to pay teacher's salary
A teacher on Feydhoo island
has not been paid for seven months. There have been other
delays in payment of teachers' salaries, but this time the
parents of the island have been asked to contribute Rf110
each to cover the salary.
In the past, delayed
payments were caused by the President's Office which would
take up to four or five months to put new teachers on the
payroll. This practice affected both Maldivian and foreign
teachers, but once on the payroll, payments were not
delayed again and all moneys owed were paid.
It is apparent that the
education budget is now in trouble. Who is taking the
money?
What lies ahead for the
reform movement in Maldives?
Gayyoom has lost the little support he once had in the
islands because of his brutality in the jails of Maldives
and during his crackdowns this year. The NSS violence he
has ordered in this latest two month bogus 'emergency',
which includes torture and raping of detainees, has made
him despised and hated even more. Locking up some of the
most respectable and courageous people in Maldives is seen
as a crime against the people themselves. Gayyoom has
angered thousands of Maldivians and created a rajje
of enemies since Black Friday.
read
more
THE TORTURE CONTINUES
There is growing concern that Gayyoom's lengthy detention
of his opponents may be affecting their mental health.
Member of the Maldives constitutional council or the
Special Majlis, Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, is reported to be
having trouble recognising members of his own family.
Special Majlis member Qasim Ibrahim, who some argue is the
rightful speaker of that Majlis, is said to have trembled
uncontrollably when he was in hospital recently.
read more
History: How Hitler Became a
Dictator
The overwhelming majority of
Germans did not seem to mind that their personal freedom
had been taken away, that so much of culture had been
destroyed and replaced with a mindless barbarism, or that
their life and work had become regimented to a degree
never before experienced even by a people accustomed for
generations to a great deal of regimentation.... The Nazi
terror in the early years affected the lives of relatively
few Germans and a newly arrived observer was somewhat
surprised to see that the people of this country did not
seem to feel that they were being cowed.... On the
contrary, they supported it with genuine enthusiasm.
Somehow it imbued them with a new hope and a new
confidence and an astonishing faith in the future of their
country.
read
more
Friday 15th October 2004
 MDP
meets Mr. Robert Key, MP
Member of the General Council of the Maldivian Democratic
Party (MDP) and Editor-in-Chief of Dhivehi Observer (DO)
website, Ahmed Moosa (Sappe') met with Mr. Robert Key,
British Member of Parliament, in his office in Salisbury
today. Mr. Key has been instrumental in bringing the case
of Maldives to the attention of the British Government.
Today he was briefed by Councillor Moosa about the
progress of the campaign and the current situation in the
Maldives. read more
Breaking
News
Detainees dig hole and escape from
secret prison in Male'
Unconfirmed reports from Male' claim a number of detainees
have escaped from a make-shift jail in Male'. A total of
up to 10 people may have escaped through a hole they dug
in the ground. There are also reports that two of them
have been captured. this SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION has not been
reported by Gayyoom's media yet. This is an embarrassing
incident for the NSS police.
Ideas for
Gayyoom
Zimbabwe set for treason verdict
He is accused of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe
ahead of elections controversially won by the Zimbabwean
leader in 2002.
Mr Tsvangirai denies the charge and contends that he was
framed by the security services.
read more
Crime is on the rise again
in the capital Male'
The police has done very little to curb the problem. Since
last year the NSS have been concentrating on political
activists rather than preventing real crime in the
capital. The NSS is also known to be actively involved in
the illegal drug trade, particularly heroin.
read more
Concern about the fate of four
cyberdissidents two months after their arrest
Reporters Without Borders
The organisation called on the European Commission to put
into effect a resolution passed by the parliament in
mid-September on freezing all financial aid to the
Maldives.
"President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom continues to rely on
hypocrisy in his dealings with the international
community. He has indeed just lifted the state of
emergency, but most of the demonstrators who were arrested
on 13 August are still being held."
read more
|
Greetings and best wishes for the month of
Ramadan to all our readers.
Let us all pray that Almighty Allah will rid our
beloved nation of fear and ignorance in this
auspicious month. And,
May the Almighty grant strength and good health
to those who are suffering for our freedom and
rights. Amen. |
Thursday 14th October 2004
 Maldives;
the first Islamic country to legalise homosexuality and
gay marriages?
Speculation is
mounting that Gayyoom's brother Abdullah Hameed, Maldives'
most notorious bi-sexual, is going to propose a change of
law in the upcoming constitutional reform agenda which is
now underway.
Homosexuality has been a trend of the ruling elite in the
Maldives and this is one of the best known public secrets
in the Maldives. In addition to homosexuality, paedophilia
is common among this princely, powerful and proud 'elite',
who have a deep conviction that the wealth of the country
belongs to them and that the people of Maldives are their
slaves.
read more
Special Report
Gayyoom's agenda hard
at work
DO's credibility has
once again risen high once again today after Gayyoom's
illicit operations in which he sealed the fate of the
Constitution of the Maldives by electing Abbas Ibrahim as
the Speaker of the Majlis.
read more
Today, the reform process
itself walked out of the Special Majlis
In what can only be described as a farce, the temporary
speaker of the Special Majlis insisted that a vote for
speaker would be by show of hands, breaking the rules of
the constitution and ignoring the fact that Gasim Ibrahim
became speaker-elect after Gayyoom appointed Ahmed Zahir as
speaker of the permanent Majlis.
read more
BREAKING NEWS
12 MPs walk out of the
Constitutional Assembly in protest : Abbas Ibrahim elected
Speaker of the Majlis
Reports are coming that
about 12 members of the Special Majlis have walked out
from the ongoing Majlis session today after they had a
disagreement about the voting procedure to elect the
President of the Special Majlis. It is now reported that
Abbas Ibrahim as expected has been elected by show of
hands. Reformists believe that electing the Speaker should
be conducted by a secret ballot. Prior meetings were
postponed on 19th July when 23 MPs walked out. 9 Out of
these MPs are still in solitary confinement an the rest
walked out today, some of whom were released only a day
before the 12th October session.
MR. PRESIDENT! PLEASE DON'T
SEND MORE CAMPAIGNERS HERE!
Maldive Students in
Malaysia
Our humble request to Gayyoom is please don't continue
sending your representatives here to articulate gratitude
to you and promote your dictatorship. We are fed up with
you and we don't want to waste time attending the meetings
held by people like Zakariyya and Aneesa. Let us remind
you that you can never persuade us to support you and be
reminded that it is our own independent right. What we
want to call you is an idiotic dictator.
read more
Are we helpless?
Where the graduates or the trained have to serve is
solely decided by the government. People with training
and higher degrees tend to serve in areas where their
training has no productive advantage in that particular
area. Engineers and other practical field graduates serve
in unrelated fields. But they cannot seek or apply for
any other job as they are tied up to one particular
government department or to a job that President's office
thinks best suites that person.
read more
No reforms: Gayyoom wants
the death of democracy in Maldives
Gayyoom is comical when confronted. He complains and
blames, stamping his feet and waving his umbrella in
outrage.
read more
Dhivehi phrases for foreign
tourists
Want to know
what really goes on outside the resorts? DO has
prepared a phrase guide for curious and concerned tourists
in modern Maldives.
read more
DO
readership soars
There were over eight million hits on the
Dhivehi Observer website in September according to our
site logs. DO was established less than 12 months
ago by Chief Editor Ahmed Moosa (Sappe').
Wednesday 13th October 2004
 Gayyoom
orders NSS to video rape of female and male detainees
Leading members of the Maldives reform
movement in exile claim their family members and other
female and male detainees are being raped by the National
Security Service (NSS) in Maldives prisons under direct
orders of President Gayyoom. These rapes are videoed and
delivered to senior NSS officers who view them with
Gayyoom, their commander-in-chief.
read more
Maldives history
Early conversions to Islam in
Maldives
If Ahmed Shihabuddheen's
record is accurate, then the Male' tomb revered and
worshipped for centuries as the grave of Shaikh Jalal
Yusuf of Tabriz is likely to contain the body of the
Meedhoo interpreter Dhoraaboo, then named Yoosuf el-Namrizi,
and the initial fame of the tomb was due to his close
relationship to the Yemeni holyman Yoosuf Gadir Al-Sanaani
Al-Yemeni who helped him convert the Male' king.
read more
Violence? Violence? Violence? Anything but...
More
pictures of Black Friday
Tuesday 12th October 2004
Maldivian Democratic
Party meets in Male' with US-based National Democratic
Institute for International Affairs
The MDP estimated an
Islamic party's support at between five and twenty
percent. One MDP representative believed that before the
formation of an Islamic party there would be internal
wrangling among the Islamists over whether it was 'halal'
to form political parties.
Regarding the possible Gayyoom party, the NDI was told
that it would be one party with hardline and more liberal
wings, or it would split into a 'brothers of Gayyoom'
party and an 'in-laws of Gayyoom' party.
read more
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| Dictator
Gayyoom |
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Gayyoom forced
to release Black Friday detainees but will they get
justice?
It is unlikely that the
victims will get the necessary legal representation
required to fight Gayyoom and his government for the
abuses they have suffered and to demand compensation,
given the lack of qualified and experienced lawyers in the
Maldives.
But a team of smart international lawyers, funded by donor
countries sympathetic to the plight of the Maldivian
people, could easily build a case to initiate legal
proceedings against the dictator and his government in an
international court.
read more
Mullahs
and Jaya Hind
The need to phase out Pseudo-Arab oppression and
over-zealous propagation
of Hindi Culture in Maldives
Arabic influence came to the
Maldives in the latter part of the 12th
Century. With them Maldivians were blessed with the
introduction of Islam, a religion that espouses in large
measure, a peaceful way of life. Mixing the two, which
have stark differences, have been a successful tactic for
Arabization, or Arab colonialism.
read more
Blast from the Past
Maze of Power - 25 years of rampant nepotism in the
Maldives
Maumoon's government consist of family and
friends who appear to have no other obligation except to
serve one of the world's most evil dictators. A small
island nation of less than 300,000 people, their
livelihood, basic human rights and liberty are taken for
granted by the ruling elite.
read more
Friday 8th October 2004
Just who do they think
they're kidding?
The Maldivian government has
spun many a fairytale in its time, trying to trick
Maldivians and foreigners alike that all is well in the
Republic. However, their web of lies is becoming
increasingly obvious to even the most trusting of
observers.
read
more
Hulhule' rents too
high for average wage earners
HULHUMALE' - Another trap
set by the Gayyoom regime to plunder money from desperate
Maldivians
I have a
full-time government job which pays me Rf2,500.00 and my
wife gets about the same. After paying the ridiculous rent
every month, we have about Rf2,000 left to spend on other
necessities. It is not only the cost of rent that we have
to bear. What about the food, clothing, education for our
children, health and other necessities such as
communication, transport, water and electricity? How could
we possibly spare a penny to meet these basic needs? What
a nightmare!
read more
Thursday 7th October 2004
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| Dictator
Gayyoom |
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Gayyoom Unrepentant;
the sinister revenge rampage continues
Maldives dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom is taking
advantage of a lull in international pressure against his
government's atrocities to order more arrests and carry
out raids on the residences and offices of dissidents.
The world must not be fooled by Gayyoom's promise of
democratic reforms this July, but must keep their
attention focused on the plight of scores of detainees who
have been held without charge or legal representation for
nearly two months now.
read more
Wednesday 6th October 2004
MDP Press Release
Treason charges planned
for protesters and popular elected reformists in Maldives
In a shockingly
defiant press statement, the Ministry of Home Affairs has
indicated that the government will press charges on
pro-democracy activists and reformist members of the
constituent assembly with 'offences against the State'.
Reformists in exile and unnamed 'foreign elements' are
implicated...
read more
Tuesday 5th October 2004
Message of
Condolence
I am deeply saddened to hear about
the untimely death of Mr. Zahid, Vaadheege today.
Zahid maybe most famous for his
music but to me, he was a great father, who had a
wonderful relationship with his children.
I feel particularly sad because I
know how hard this must be for Zahid's children and
his loving wife.
Zahid was a man with a big heart.
His house was one of the most welcoming houses I
have ever been to and I have fond memories of Mr.
Zahid and his great sense of humour.
My thoughts are with his wife and
children on this very sad day.
May Allah bless him with in eternal
peace. Ameen!
Ahmed Moosa (Sappe') - Dhivehi
Observer
|
 Message
on the Occasion of Teachers' Day
We are going through a very trying
time in our lives. We need you to be alert to the
volatile situation and to alert your students to
these changes. They are the future of Maldives and
you must teach them to be independent and reject
oppression.
You have a tremendous responsibility
towards creating a better Maldives. Please do not
ignore that.
On this important occasion, we thank
and congratulate you all for your hard work. We
promise you that with a better government all of us
will be equally affluent and happy.
Ahmed Moosa (Sappe') - Dhivehi
Observer
Click to
email your messages to teachers
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...the
music just wont die...
Mohamed Zahid - a
life time of service for the music industry
Many
Maldivians today (5 th Oct 2004) mourn the
untimely demise of Mohamed Zahid (56) of Vaadheege
Machachangolhi, an irreplaceable loss to the music
industry in Maldives . Lovingly known as Pro by
music-pupils for his comparatively expert and
patient will to impart knowledge, especially of
the guitar. Friends and many fans know Zahid as an
incredibly hardy musician. A strong-willed
music-guru for many aspirants, he had persevered
in steering his efforts to success across many
difficult seas.
read
more
Letter to the Editor
We need change. Maumoon
Abdul Gayyoom should go
This message is written by me, but
this is the voice of many many thousands of Maldivians
who are extremely upset, fed up, tired, disappointed of
the tyranny and injustice of Maumoon and his gang.
Maumoon has made the constitution and regulations in
such a way that he will never leave the crown, and
nobody could remove him from his kingdom until the last
day of his life which he expects to extend to another 25
years with the blessings of Singapore doctors.
read more
DO
Profile
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Mohamed Nasheed
(Anni) |
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Mohamed
Nasheed (Anni), Co-Founder of Maldivian Democratic Party
"We will
establish pluralistic democracy in the Maldives. The
people of Maldives deserve better and Maldivian Democratic
Party is determined to achieving its objectives".
Mohamed Nasheed (Anni)
Anni is without a doubt one
of the most vocal and respected critics of the government
of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. He is also one of the founder
members of the Maldivian Democratic Party. Amongst other
achievements of his social and political career, the most
significant event was to serve as a Member of Parliament
for Male' in 1999, the biggest constituency in the
country. He now lives in London and has been granted
political asylum in the UK. Ever since the events of
September 2003 Anni has been working fulltime to promote
and establish a democratic government in the Maldives.
According to him there is no telling what Gayoom will do
to him if he returns.
read more
Monday 4th October 2004
 Zuhaira:
The Voice
Am I to be the only woman to speak up even in this
time as well as then, she was heard commenting, just after
she spoke at the second minvan bahus. She has always been
a woman who made sure her voice was heard. She spoke up on
the eve of Friday the thirteenth of August at the largest
demonstration that the country has seen in the last 25
years or more. She raised her famous voice against torture
and for a better future for this country; against
corruption and nepotism. For that she sits in a solitary
cell in Dhoonidhoo one of the interrogation centers of the
current regime of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. Zuhaira is one of
the 10 women taken in by the regime in relation to the
demonstration.
read more
READING MATERIAL
Maldives; Overview of
Economic Developments During 2003
External Debt -
'Statistics on external debt
comprises of medium to long-term government and government
guaranteed borrowings plus short-term borrowings of the
banking sector. Total external debt stock (disbursed and
outstanding) has remained at around 40 percent of GDP in
both 2002 and 2003. In absolute levels this amounted to
US$259.0 million in 2002 and had increased by 8 percent to
US$280.9 million at the end of 2003'.
read more
Can the
Maldivian Democratic Party do a better job in the
government?
 Gayyoom
has single-handedly starved a nation of its future by
being an autocratic rule. He has not allowed any form of
opposition to his rule, beginning with press and media.
Everything is controlled, even the thinking of the people.
Those who oppose him are labelled as traitors and crushed.
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) declared on 10th
November 2003 that his government was illegitimate. The
statement made it very clear that MDP does not recognise
Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom as the elected President of
Maldives.
read more
Sunday 3rd October 2004
 27
Years of Horror -Time for Charges against Gayyoom
As writers and analysts
speculate about who was in charge of the 13 August
crackdown on a peaceful protest against Gayyoom and his
government, scores of dissidents are still languishing in
prisons and detention centres, amidst mounting evidence of
grave human rights abuses.
read more
 Congratulations
Qasim Ibrahim - Speaker of the Special Majlis
During the first and last
meeting of the Special Majlis on 19 July, a Speaker for
the Special Majlis was being elected according to the
constitution. The process of submitting names of
candidates for the Speaker's position was completed. Only
the voting remained.
There was a disagreement over how the voting process was
to be carried out. The time to submit names of candidates
for the Speaker expired after the names of two candidates
were suggested and seconded. These candidates were one of
President Gayyoom's selected members, Ahmed Zahir, and the
elected member for Ari Atoll South, Qasim Ibrahim.
read more
Saturday 2nd October 2004
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perhaps a cool
sports car? |
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Gayyoom to bribe
Parliament Members 'everyone will get an official car
like Ministers'
Gayyoom is planning to give each Member of the Parliament
an official car like the ministers and others who he
approves of. Male' Atoll Member Don Adam Fulhu is expected
to propose this in the Parliament with the blessings of
Gayyoom. Don Adam Fulhu is the brother of Chief of Staff
Mohamed Zahir (22) and is known to be a puppet of Gayyoom.
read more
 Jennifer
Latheef the Activist: One Hundred Days of Solitude
Miss
Jennifer Latheef, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP)
Councillor, Human Rights Activist and film producer, is in
solitary confinement in the Dhoonidhoo interrogation
centre in the Maldives. Jennifer in her early 30's, during
the past one year, has spent more than one hundred days in
solitary confinement. Her first incarceration was on
September 2003, for her part in the protest that followed
the torture and killing of Evan Naseem on the 19th
September 2003 and the killing of three other prisoners
and fatal injury of many more on the 20th September 2003
in Maafushi Jail.
read more
Friday 1st October 2004
 Is
Gayyoom a billionaire?
Gayyoom's cousin Kaamineegey Zahid (Six-X Music Shop
owner, former 20th Century BC lead guitarist)
has been rushed on a charter flight to Colombo for medical
treatment today. Unconfirmed reports say that he is
suffering from a brain haemorrhage. Notwithstanding our
deepest shock for the direct family of Mr. Zahid, his sons
and daughters, what we are highlighting here is the total
misuse of public funds by Gayyoom. We hope that Zahid will
recover fully in the shortest time possible. Many
Maldivians like Zahid, who are unfortunately not related
to Gayyoom's family pay the ultimate price when they are
struck with a misfortune as this. Many Maldivian women
have died during delivery because adequate medical
facilities were not available in the island or in the
Atoll. People have travelled for more than 24 hours in
their small boats trying to get to Male' for delivery and
many sadly pass away during the journey. No Maldivian can
say that this is simple not true! Not even Gayyoom. He
knows that this is the Simple Truth.
read more
MDP Newsletter 21 Released
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