:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Treason charges planned for protesters and popular elected reformists in Maldives

MDP press release - www.maldiviandemocraticparty.org - 6 Oct 2004

Despite promises of reform and some token changes in ministerial posts, President Gayoom seems more determined than ever to subvert his own reform agenda and to crush all political dissent.

In a shockingly defiant press statement (please see attachment) 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.

The charge of treason carries a death sentence. The demonstration of 12th and 13th August was largely peaceful, despite attempts by pro-Gayoom militia to provoke unrest as an excuse to crackdown. When the crackdown did come, it was ferocious and brutal. Hundreds were handcuffed from behind and blindfolded for days on end. Even the docile Human Rights Commission of Maldives was moved to comment on the excessive force used by the National Security Service.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, unbelievably, justified the atrocity on grounds of 'national security'. Gayoom seems to have settled down and in fact gained in strength from recent events. He seems to dismiss the national problem of widespread discontent with his rule as the work of a few dissidents in exile working with foreigners. He seems to take comfort in the belief that shifting of some key personnel and mere promise of reform for a future date would placate the international community.

In public statements the government keeps expressing the view that, for example, the EU and the United States and even SAARC countries such as Sri Lanka and India, are satisfied and supportive of his pace and method for reform. Taking comfort from this belief of support, the government is readying to hold parliamentary elections with almost the entire opposition leadership either in jail or in exile.

With another rubberstamp parliament in place, Gayoom knows that the parliament will give him a further five years when the remaining four years of his sixth term is over in 2008. The international community needs to understand and fully appreciate his game plan.

While he talks about reform, Gayoom is systematically undermining any and all resistance to his repressive rule. He is also about to take total control of the constituent assembly and the parliament. With elections round the corner, the international community needs to take firm and decisive steps to counter Gayoom's illegal maneuvering and blatant abuse of political detainees.

An indecisive or complacent approach on the part of the international community would guarantee that Gayoom would consolidate his illiberal, undemocratic and autocratic rule over the people of the Maldives. The future of democracy in Maldives could be decided in the coming weeks.