Updated: 09/12/2005 08:02:01

Archive 5th - 13th November 2004   Saturday 13 November 2004 cnUmuzwm utwlWH ImIluAwt - wkwhWv eguLotauDcawa   caemuvencned wBcaWK enWncnoa WmwdWm cnurukcnWlwsudIA iawgunWdiawmIrUHcmuj egumurukcnWlwsudIA iawgunWdiawmIrUHcmuj uhwf cSwdWmwnudIA egWmwdWm IkwdwsugwmuDnwgiawm .eveaeviawfibilutWmUluawm cSwmwkWviawfivErcaemWrcgorup IsWyis csevcaea Iaim iaWmwkcnulcnokWlWa cnwkirevukea WlWhwa ulWvuHwaulWH iawgIriawkWhim Waegcniawfis .eveaivuLWdiv unwswh cSwmwkcnUncaetWkwrwH unwswh iawgubWvwj egulWvusiruk OtEnwgunurib cSwrwm uriaWvWr caemwkwdwfim Inwlwbim !eveaWtenWrwmun cnuhImuhwvud udIA cned cniawfis' IvuLWdiv '.eveSwmwkcnehea cSwmwkenWdwh caokcnWlws evcaea cSwnwtimukwywb egcaedwdwAwnig cSwrwv .eveaivuLWdiv unwswh csevwkwhWvWrukudImcaua   6 cmwlok oyeturwm cnwvinim ubWyimWkWn Ikwa csilcjwm Itwm Eheb iaWkwtcawtcnwk ImWlcsia caenwt Wviawfev    NSS News- Range Rover Riles Ranks  52 members of the Rapid Reaction Unit  are detained by NSS chief of staff Mohamed 22 Zahir 52 members of the Rapid Reaction Unit of the Maldivian Army (RRU) are detained indefinitely by Chief of Staff 22 Zahir after they complained about being ill-treated by their superiors and talked about corruption in the army. The top commanders, nicknamed Uday and Gusay by the RRU members, kept them in a tent without adequate facilities which they tore apart in rage  after three months. Chief of Staff 22 Zahir was so mad that he threatened to dismiss all of them, but he later ordered them to be confined to their barracks. They had no permission to go out or meet their families. Members of the RRU also accused Mohamed 22 Zahir of embezzling government funds and talked about his 'S for security'-plated new Range Rover when they do not have proper hygiene standards in mess rooms of the army. Corruption and abuse of power is mirrored inside the defence ministry and police too. It is reported that dissent is high in the ranks of the NSS army as well as in the police section.     Kerzner Announces Third Quarter Results One & Only Reethi Rah Resort Maldives : a marvel of corruption In the quarter, the company advanced an additional $21.0 million in the form of mezzanine financing related to the development of the One&Only Reethi Rah, the company's second managed resort in the Maldives, which is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2005. The Company expects to fund approximately $10 million in the fourth quarter of 2004 related to this development. read more Wataniya wins GSM license in the Maldives Telecommunications Authority of Maldives (TAM) announced that Wataniya Telecom has acquired a new license to provide mobile telephony services in the Maldives. 'With the introduction of the new mobile entrant, TAM hopes that there will be huge improvements in the quality of mobile services throughout the country with the of innovative services at lower prices,' states a quote from TAM's press release announcing Wataniya's win. read more    Doctors of Dictatorship  Gayyoom rejects 200 Villa scholarships proposed by reformist leader and businessman Qasim Ibrahim Sources in the education ministry say Gayyoom has rejected the 200 Villa scholarships which were submitted to the ministry for approval. Maldivians are waiting eagerly to apply for these scholarships. Dr. Muhsin, director general of the Higher Education College has told his colleagues that Villa scholarships will not be permitted anymore. read more  Money for nothing, and the people aren't free  Businessmen and the Dictator The days of hypocritical photo opportunities and pandering to corruption are over. The country has changed and the people of Maldives are better informed. They expect better behaviour from the men and women who profit so greatly from their nation's economy. As you move around the world in luxury, are you content to profit from a regime that uses torture and beatings to terrify and rob its own people? Is this the sort of paradise you want to sell? read more ifcaokudWmwn udIA udwaim iawgUdcsia.l iawgUdcsia .l cnutogWnub cawturwbwK egIrcTcsinim csclOTea .eveSwtogcaea iaWaWycaibwrwa IdUAws .eveaifcaokudWmwn udIA udwaim iawgEjcaWrihevid .evenugnEn caemwkctenihikIvim cswkwaemcnok udwaim .eveawnig cnuhImivIh cSwmwkenWvcawdIA udwaim wkwhWv ihejunwmwhctih Wmwkim cSwkwrwvEduf cnuhIm iawgItwmurWzWbElWm ukwhwvudurutia csIawr iretctwzctiA ukwmwkea .eveawdnwh wbeaWkcawd cKiaex cSwmwk udIA WmwdWm ItWvcnunEbcnwvcauLua iawgurutua wlwkcaea iawkwTcSwtwmWlwsImuawq urwhwaim .eveaIvemcnin udIxwr egEa .eveaWtWvcaWbun csev "Wsclwj Wlwbudnwh" wdwgurwv .eveaIvcaurukEr iawg (iLukwnod) EvwacDiawh cDcneliawa iawgulwdwb    MaldivesRoyalFamily.com editorial  Is an economic boycott worth it? In spite of the huge disparities in wealth and income that tourism have created, its benefits trickle down to the ordinary Maldivian. Even those that are on the garudhiya-line (Maldive breadline) are better off than their counterparts in the rest of the SAARC region. read more Friday 12 November 2004  Maldives 2004  Fourteen Defining Characteristics Of Fascism Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.  read more  The Guardian UK  Arafat and his legacy He will rightly be remembered for one huge achievement: when he founded the Fatah movement in the mid-1960s, Palestinians were known only as stateless refugees, half-forgotten victims of the creation of the Jewish state in the 1948 war, barely tolerated by the Arab regimes that sheltered them. By the mid-1970s, when he addressed the UN general assembly and offered a choice between the gun and the olive branch, the national rights of the Palestinians were widely recognised. read more Arafat photo gallery  WbutuKurukuh cSwmuvencnegurib cnuhIm IneverukcnunEb cSwfWliKiaWkwtulcswa egunId  !ejcaitencnWdwh cnwkwtcnwvcnudwLuk egnWlwk ...iruhukWlwh cSwnUmuawm  QwnWHubus ,QwnWHubus ,QwnWHubus cnumwlwg egcaehImirukudIaWt .eveaegnea cnwkukWk IkwnUmuawm    New book  English translation of Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu The popular Dhivehi story, Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu is now available in English translation for the first time. Abdullah Sadiq's version of the tale is the core text for teaching Dhivehi language and traditional culture in schools throughout Maldives.  read more  Yahoo Asia news report from West Bank  Arafat's Millions Could Slip Away Last year the International Monetary Fund reported $900 million in Palestinian Authority income never reached the treasury during the first six years of self-rule. The money, including Israeli tax rebates and revenue from monopolies on cigarettes, fuel and cement, instead went into a Tel Aviv account controlled by Arafat. Harari, the former intelligence official, said the Israeli prime minister at the time, Yitzhak Rabin, was offended by the arrangement but was told by his advisers that Arafat needed a slush fund to suppress opposition to peace deals with Israel. International aid officials declined to discuss PLO finances, saying they were only concerned with the Palestinian Authority's bookkeeping. Karim Nashashibi, the IMF representative in the Palestinian areas, said the $900 million has been restored to the treasury under Fayyad, who has won international praise for his work.  In the last three years, Fayyad sharply curtailed Arafat's spending powers, cutting the budget for the "president's office" from $100 million in 2002 to $43 million this year.  read more  Thursday 11 November 2004 cten caeawnWm egumurukWfua cnemuDnwguLwa uhwvud IrUhcmuj IqIqwh IvcnWv cSwkwmuzwa egcnemuDnwguLwa uhwvud umcaihumim   egEjcaWrihevid idwa ,cnwdcawfua iawgEjcaWr caemwkirev IrUhcmuj   egcnutiycawrihevid WviawgEa caokiretWkcawr IsWswaunUnWq   urWb egIsWswaunUnWq idwa cnudOhWrubnwa cnulwa cawtuqcawH   cSwkwhwvwa csevWhIv unUmuawm urWdcawG ItWviawfiawlWvuDnwk   ctwaIrwx egutWnWyiK uDobemcnea udem iaWaWnEa caokurwycawh   cnugcnih   iawgumwk caeaWycairUhcmuj iawgIsWswaunUnWq IkwaejcaWrihevid   urWtuKumuduK irevWyinwa uriaWviawfcaokcnWywb iLeawDnwk   enWvun cnegIdwyigcnih iawgEjcaWr "caemwkcswr"      Associate Press News  Four pro-democracy prisoners on hunger strike transferred to house arrest in Maldives The Maldives has transferred four pro-democracy activists to house arrest, days after they began a hunger strike to protest their lengthy imprisonment without charge, an opposition party said Thursday.  A total of 16 political prisoners began refusing food last Thursday, and four have been moved to house arrest, the Maldives Democratic Party said in a statement. It gave no other details. read more   iawgILog wDuk UdinUd cnirwd uLwgnwr emcnea unudefua iawgumuawg ihevid ?eveycaeh IvcnwrukUd cSwmuaidimin   WrukOr urwmcnwd egWyinwa cnirev csog emun Oledirem'' ''Wrwm iawgulwj cnutiycawr wtumISud wlwhwkim caemwkirev             2004 ubWKitcnia  cnwxckelia cSwfWliK Wdiawvwq WwlWvurwaiLur udWxwr rwnwximwk udihWx ifiawgwnOTof iawgEretcsIfoa ifiawvcaWb Er caea cgcniTIm cTenibek ufWliK WnUnWq  cTrOpir wscaWK egOaID Eheb WmuvEr egurukuhuLwk egEjcaWrihevid eg 2004 cTcswgOa 13 idwa 12 ?caeawbcnok IrukcmWzitcnia WrwhWzum urukuhuLwk 2004 ubWKitcnia cnegId uTes uTes cmUrcDeb InWlenwguTOv urwhwfim unImWy   cSwtugwa Ebil cnwncnwg udwaim Wrugnwb iaWrukwh iawgurWzWb ElWm Wgus cnuawrub Wyifur 3,300 caeTelub Wyifur 500 caehIP uDob Wyifur 100 wDuk uTos 1 (cnutwa EkiC) cniriawkurub iLOgcnwCcawm InWvwncnwgiawDwvibil cnwncnwg (rwnrOk csETWP) cniriawk EgcnemcnImWy IDWkwb ,ukinoTcnij ,WkuDov ,Ikcsiv Wyifur 200 (cSwbWsih Wdem) iLuf cTeP Wyifur 600 caeaiLuf cmea ,cmea 170 Wyifur 33 caeLwd urwyib cscmwTcswk ElWm - cnupUrug irubnud - InWvwncnwgiawDwvibil cnwncnwg iriawk  .eveaenEbil uTcnuawkcsiD cSwkwtctWrwfwncnwg caokuDnwg cnukwtwDwk iaWncnudcawhwrws cmwTcswk utWmUluawm urutia   urwbwd urwbwK ...WmWrcD urcais unuLukudImwh wg 13/12cTcswgoa ...cSokuruk cawturwbwK egubWKitcnia ...cTcneDisckea Wmuvurwmcniduk ....cnwmcsckOpcs Wdwhugod (cSwCcawm cnurwhwa 18)  wHwdwm InUaclwm Iten ukwkea EnWvctwmWlws Itoaim Ekemwkirev uDob Wlwb IlWvcaor cnihevid WlWgwn cnwkcnwvinimea cnumwlwg Wlud           cnidukWvwyik ihevid ibit iawgWyixElem  wdwgurwvctih WdcnumwrukulWtuLwH egumwkunUh iawhuDnwb cnutugwv wmwh itencaeturwx csevcaea cnihevid cnwlWvog cnemerwhwa cSwmulcSokUd  The last word  Time for the Mother of All Speeches It seems that Gayyoom has reached a point in his political life where he is unable to distinguish what is best for his political survival and what is not. It is becoming very clear that one of his close political aides is successfully manipulating Gayyoom to devise the events of his own downfall. It is only a matter of time now.  read more Wednesday 10 November 2004  DO Special Report on Black Friday Conspiracy  Who organised the Maldives Black Friday demonstrations on 12-13 August 2004?   Mr. Fulhu (Mohamed Yousuf) was released just after midnight on Thursday 12th, another four detainees were also released a short time later Ahmed Moosa, who edits Dhivehi Observer from the UK, phoned reformists on Thursday afternoon 12 August and thirty minutes later, Fulhu was detained. After that arrest, Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and Ahmed Moosa phoned reformists and urged them to begin a vigil at Republican Square and demand the release of the detainees. Ahmed Moosa says he personally phoned Sheikh Fareed and asked him to attend.  read more  caemulWvogeg Oa.ID  cniruk eg 6 urIvwh eguhwvud (2004 rwbcmevon 10) udwaim egrwvWzcboa ihevid wmwnifiawluncSokUd cnemcnea WviawfcSokurwycawh enWSwf ''cnEpcmek egumuruk cTokiaOb ejcaWrihevid'' cnutWrwf    Special announcement  'Maldives Boycott Campaign' by DO unless all detainees released before sunset today - 10 November 2004 After consultation with colleagues, friends and readers of Dhivehi Observer, we believe there is no option than to launch a 'Maldives Boycott Campaign' unless Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom meets the following conditions by 6 pm today, 10 November 2004: - Unconditional and immediate release of all Black Friday detainees by 6 pm Male' time. They must be home to break their fast. - Release all Black Friday detainees from house arrest and lifting of their travel restrictions by 6 pm today. - Drop all charges against all Black Friday detainees. - Unconditional and immediate release of Sheik Fareed  by 6 pm today - Release of Naushad Waheed and all Sandhaanu e-newsletter detainees, Nisreen, Zaki and Didi. - Pardon and quashing of the unlawful charges against Sandhaanu editor Ibrahim Luthfy. read more   Reuters - hunger strike report  Jailed Maldivian protesters vow to fast to death COLOMBO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Six Maldivians jailed for nearly three months without charge for protesting against the Islamic island cluster's autocratic ruler vowed on Tuesday to fast to death unless they are released, an exiled opposition figure said. read more Sara Mahir wants her father to be released  Champa says life's great under Gayyoom  'Maldivian Night' in London disrupted by Friends of Maldives protestors Friends of Maldives staged a protest outside Hilton Hotel, Park Lane in London tonight where the Maldivian tourist industry participants held a reception like all other years. Friends of Maldives were at the doors protesting for the rights of their friends and for freedom and justice in the Maldives. Leaflets were passed to guests who arrived at the reception including the Maldivian businessmen as well as other participants. "I want my Father to be released, he has not committed any crime. Gayyoom has no right to hold my father in jail without a trial or even without a charge" said Sarah who is now working in London with Friends of Maldives. read more     Minivan Radio Listen to Program 14            caerwvWzcboa cnEpcmek cSwmwkcsIawr egEjcaWr Ikwa Iguawx rwTckoD caehIm iruh iawfWdcaiviawf         Opinion  The Hameeds and their thirst for revenge I think having a homosexual affair with your own son-in-law is rather immoral. However, I really feel Minister Hameed's homosexual escapades are his own business. What I find irksome, however, is his penchant to promote his gay lovers to various high posts such as island chiefs and atoll chiefs. What is troubling is that Hameed's gay brigade is used not only to fulfill Hameed’s carnal desires but also to rig Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Hameed also needs to desist from lavishing government wealth and contracts on his gay partners. Hameed, in my opinion, can exercise his gay rights but he should desist from squandering the country's wealth on them. read more   Tuesday 9 November 2004  News Brief Friends of Maldives distribute flyers at WTM Fair Groundand demonstrate outside Hilton, Park Lane where 'The Maldivian Night' reception were held this evening   view FOM Leaflet FOM members were out in London today distributing the Maldives Paradise to Holiday in ... Hell to live in flyers at the WTM Fair. The members also spoke to many people who wanted to know more information about the Maldives. A Full report will be published shortly.   cnumwlwg egcaeDWg ITiruaikes !wred cSwrwv ulWH egETcaWyiz iaWbiawAux !ifcaokulwdwb cSwdcnwb Eg udwaim cniaesuh csWyclia !Evevudetun cSwkwLok !wfirugum wdwbiawm egudIrwf cKiaex IneLua iawyik cSwaWnEa cnuhIm iawgulwj !caegifWnumWkcawfwmwh IkwnUmuawm" "!WjWr iDnogWr    Magic in the tale   Dhon Hiyala and Ali Fulhu - Fanditha Hawwa Fulhu and Ali Fulhu have been trained in the magic arts on their home island Hulhudheli, and they cast a variety of spells during their battle over this fantasy odi. The conjuring by Hawwa of storms and vicious fish is described in detail, and Ali's invoking of the king of the sea and his ministers is both comic and awesome, and concludes with a blood sacrifice.   read more  Local News - Gayyoom's cruelty continues  Ali Shiyam denied urgent medical care Ali Shiyam is one of the most prominent and vocal pro-democracy activists arrested on 13th August 2004 for participating in the Black Friday demonstrations. DO is informed he was booked to fly to Bangkok for a medical check-up the same night he was arrested. Shiyam had undergone surgery recently and is required to have regular check-ups and medication. This service is not available in the Maldives and despite the medical urgency, he was kept in jail for 67 days and released on 21 October 2004. After his release, he asked to make his long delayed medical visit to Bangkok, but his request has been rejected. Ali Shiyam is the marketing director of one of the largest hoteliers in the Maldives, AAA Hotels and Resorts Group, and he asked for his travel ban to be lifted so he could attend the important World Travel Market Fair in London, which is currently underway. His request was denied without explanation. Shiyam has not been charged and his basic human and legal rights are being violated by Gayyoom, in contravention of the constitution and laws of Maldives. Gayyoom's treatment of Shiyam can only be classed as disgraceful and barbaric.      Hunger strikers' condition worsens  Shuaib Ali, reformist on hunger strike, has requested for his will to be written fearing the worst Reformist Shuaib Ali has asked the authorities to meet with his lawyers to write his will, fearing that he may die any moment. Pro-democracy demonstrators are on a hunger strike in prison after nearly three months of torture and other mistreatment. They are being held without charge, and many are in extremely weak condition.  Shuaib has been in detention since 13 August 2004, after being arrested for participating in the Black Friday demonstration.  Reformist sympathisers in the NSS say their orders from Gayyoom and his associates are relentless and he will not budge, no matter what. The Gayyoom regime is determined to end opposition to President Gayyoom once and for all. More than eighteen detainees are reported to be participating in this hunger strike. Despite requests from family members, they have refused to end their fast, and the worst outcome seems imminent. May Allah give our friends the strength and will-power to survive to see their country free from the tyranny of Gayyoom. They are true heroes of our nation and we are all collectively responsible for their fate. This is a very high price to pay, but nothing is sweeter than freedom and liberty.     Monday 8 November 2004   urwbwKegIruk  ilOb cnumwkwdwg urwkwzegcaejcauk cnehirif egurwhwa 16 ?wtWbokurWhim urwmua udwmcawHum ubItwkuDob UdiDnwb .d    Friends of Maldives - Press Release  'We Want Democracy Now' demonstration by Friends of Maldives in London today FOM Press Release - A peaceful demonstration was held today outside the High Commission of Maldives in London to call upon the Government of Maldives to release the Hunger-Strikers and all pro-democracy detainees immediately. read more      Dhivehi-English dictionary  Dhivehi Observer and Maldives Culture editors and are pleased to announce the English-Dhivehi-English dictionary is now available in a new edition, which includes appendices of Dhivehi numbers, days and lunar months, and weights and measures. Price: US$50 - more details here  Aafathis edition withdrawn over headline and report on Gayyoom religious tolerance speech  csitwfWa ...cnUncaehImcnehea...cnwrukcfwrWAwt cawtcnIdutWfwt InwvcnunEb 'unUmuawm'     view FOM Leaflet  Demonstration in London Friends of Maldives Demonstration in London FOM(UK) will stage a demonstration today in London calling for the release of the Black Friday detainees. The theme of the demonstration is 'Islands of Paradise & Hell' - paradise to holiday in and hell to live in. Flyers and information are to be distributed and it is believed that the demonstration will go on the whole day. Unlike in Gayyoom's democracy, freedom of expression and assembly is not only respected in the UK but it is highly appreciated by the public and is the most common way to bring the attention of the world to an issue of this nature. Local Media and other NGO's have been alerted and are expected to cover the demonstration in their news. DO will report more as soon as more information and pictures are received.        Local News Hunger Strike Day 4 - Reformists are refusing to eat and demand immediate unconditional release Male' - Confirmed reports say that the reformists who began a hunger strike on 4th November are now in a critical condition, after not eating for 4 days now. Among the weakest are Shuaib Ali and Ilyas Hussain. Concern over their wellbeing is mounting, and their families have asked the authorities to intervene and solve the problem. The government of Maldives have been playing down this whole thing until  the wives of the reformists were taken to the police station and asked to plead with their husbands to break the fast and end their hunger strike. However, the reformists are determined to get to the bottom of this. Gayyoom has been extremely heavy-handed in dealing with any dissent and people have been questioned and detained even for questioning the legality of the continued arrest of some of the leading figures in the country. The reformists realised this, and knew that the only way to solve this is to stage a strike of this nature. On behalf of the readers of DO, we call on Gayyoom to show a bit of humility and release these reformists who have not committed a crime but only voiced their opposition to his tyrannical rule. 'Gayyoom will not win this time, we are determined to bring down his ilegitimate rule,' said a family member of the reformists. 'Gayyoom's dogs are not allowing us to re-group and assemble, but when we do, we will show them the power of the people.'       igcnwf  InwruknunEb iawgutogwmwhwn Wsiawf egcnutiycawr ubiawnwrWDcnwb *   cawDobcawrwv cawaelWm cnwkirevurib eg cnuhImErEf iaWncnuhImWrukcnwkcawv * ejcaevitwmiruk     Sunday 7 November 2004 Shuaib and Ilyas on Black Friday  Press Release Fears over the life of pro-democracy detainees on hunger strike The Maldivian Democratic Party is receiving numerous appeals to prevail over the Maldives government and the international community for intercession over the deteriorating health of pro-democracy detainees on hunger strike. Of particular concern from appeals brought forward by family members and friends is that of Hon. Ilyas Hussein Ibrahim and Mr.Shuaib Ali. Their failing health is reported to be causing alarm to their families as both men have not taken food the past three days. read more   ITis wscaWK   ubwbws unuhejunwmwhctih udemWDib UdWyib - urwviliv * uroswred !eveSWlEh cSwhwvwa cSokUd idin egumwkclifWG !evencniawfisihevid *  2004 cbWKitcnia  EhebWmuvoh cnurwbcmem cSwhIlIijwm egcnutiycawr * 4 rwTcpeC utWbUgua clununWq egEjcaWrihevid 10/68 urwbcmwnunUnWq cSuk Eheb WbWKitcnia   Wlcawjwm ejcaemukin 17 ugcnwscswf *   A Discourse-Theoretical Approach to the Question of the Maldives: Reclaiming Communicative Power in the Public Spheres and Civil Society By Dylan 1 - Presenting the Discourse-Theoretical Model 2 - Taking the Next Step: A Discourse-Theoretical Critique of Social Control and Education 3 - An Attempt at Autocritique: Self-Reflexivity as Emancipation - 408k PDF document     Editorial Accidents are always on the rise in Male' during Ramazan Going for a last minute round on your bicycle, bike or your car minutes before the Maghrib prayer (sunset) is a great tradition in Male'. This tradition is also seen in other larger Maldivian islands such as Fuah Mulak and Addu Atoll Islands. What is most amazing is that these people are very low on energy because they are fasting yet they drive and ride the bikes very recklessly and dangerously. Almost everyday there are accidents some of which has ended tragically. This is a very important issue that we all must think about and try to solve. read more   Saturday 6 November 2004 Opinion "In America, it is vital that every vote count, and that every vote be counted".. In Maldives ...every vote is screened and then counted This script is to be evidence for the member of an honest citizen of Fuvahmulah who put in an article under the heading of "How the votes were fixed in Fuah Mulah for the 2003 Maldives presidential referendum." I thank him for taking the responsibility of a right citizen. It is our duty, the duty of Maldivians to hard-fight to make this country a better place no matter from which Atoll we are. Following is a great evidence for the writer's article. read more   Opinion The greatest danger to Maldives is not from outside, nor is it a political issue; It is an open problem of which the depth is not acknowledged The problem is drugs. While the government is indeed doing some work in controlling the import and sale of narcotics, is the attention and resources provided for this important issue enough? I feel that it is not. read more   uTcauTcnoD  ;enWLwfuncaerinoyek cnukwhwgwlwa .evekejcaukcnehirifcnehcnwa Ivencnuh cSwkwrwDIl egcnETWp iawguhwvudurukuhuLwk  unwswh cnod WnEa ...uhwf cSwauyivrwTcnia Is.Ib.Ib wdwgurwvea egEpcaws ?eveaWbEv ulisWh udwsugwm egutwkcawswm Wruk iawkwTcSwncnihevid    Local News Yameen, Hamdhoon, Dr. Shaugy and Dr. Saeed are running the show now Informants in the Attorney General's office and in the Trade Ministry report that daily meetings are taking place between the Yameen, Hamdhoon, Dr. Shaugy and Dr. Saeed to try and ensure the continuity of Gayyoom's tyranny. The meetings are held in the AG's Office or in Yameen's mini-palace in Funadhoo Island. It is believed that the Prime Ministerial position will be granted to one of these men, and Gayyoom has indeed given important tasks to each of these powerful ministers of his regime. Yameen is the commanding officer but it is believed that Dr. Shaugy and Dr. Saeed are given enormous powers to deal with people who are opposed to the government. 'Dr. Shaugy is trying to please everyone but he is now the worst of them all,' said a long-term friend of his. 'I am so ashamed of him now.' he added. In charge of the Justice Ministry, Dr. Shaugy is reportedly threatening judges and intimidating them to ensure that key reformists are locked up for life, including his long term aide Qasim Ibrahim, who has helped him in times of hardship before he became a member of Gayyoom's cabinet. 'Truth and justice will prevail; there is no doubt about it,' said the reformist who reported this news.     Friday 5 November 2004 Mr. Nazeer, Director of Sunland Group, has been in solitary confinement without charge since 28 September 2004 - He has attended all major travel fairs in Europe for the past 10 years and is recognised as one of the best at his job  Local News Prominent businessmen are banned from travelling abroad Male' - Several of the reformists who were detained on Black Friday, 13th August 2004, were prominent businessmen of the Maldives who contribute greatly to the economy. Amongst these are people who are in the tourism industry of the Maldives. Some of these were later released after several weeks in solitary confinement but they have been banned from leaving the Maldives even to attend trade fairs abroad. World Travel Market (WTM, London) is one of the largest travel trade fairs that Maldivians participate. This has led to a tremendous increase in the number of the Brits who visit the Maldives. Maldives operators have been participating in WTM London since 1994.   According to reliable sources, Gayyoom has refused to lift the travel ban on top executives of the tourism industry to attend this important WTM fair. This further affirms the scepticism amongst the industry elite that nothing matters to Gayyoom except sustaining his tyrannical rule. Confirmed reports say that several anti-Gayyoom activities will be staged during this event in London including a mass demonstration calling for the 'Regime Change' in Maldives on the basis of continuous human rights abuses and crimes against humanity.   Mr. Nazeer, Director of Sunland Group, has been in solitary confinement without charge since 28 September 2004. He has attended all major travel fairs in Europe for the past 10 years and is recognised as one of the best at his job, marketing the Maldives Tourism Industry.   clwairOTiDea - cnwkcnwvinim egumurukuLWf ulWyiK iaWmwkiretcnuyil caegcawH IsWswa          Yahoo News Maldives' pro-democracy prisoners on hunger strike protesting prolonged detention Twenty-three pro-democracy activists in Maldives are on a hunger strike to protest their prolonged imprisonment without charge, an opposition party said Friday. The detainees were among 185 people arrested in August following a 3,000-strong pro-democracy rally in the capital, Male, which also led to a state of emergency. The government lifted the emergency last month, but 55 people, including several lawmakers, are still in prison. read more       Press Release Pro-democracy prisoners on hunger-strike in the Maldives Pro-democracy prisoners in the Maldives are staging a hunger-strike in protest against their continued detention by the government of President Gayoom. The prisoners, who have been in jail for over 70 days without charge, are refusing to break their traditional Ramzan fast because of what they believe is the political motivation behind their continued detention. Initial reports indicate that 23 prisoners on hunger strike, which started yesterday evening (November 4th) in Dhoonidoo and Maufushi Jails. read more   urwbwK unEpcmek cnwvIj csEkcsib - Oa.IT.csea iaWnEpcmek eg Ilwyih *    When bribes and fear don't work anymore...   How the votes were fixed in Fuah Mulah for the 2003 Maldives presidential referendum Gayyoom in Fuah Mulah 2003 One of the men kept his hand at the slot in the ballot box. The man who gave me the vote paper then asked me to hand my ballot over... I told the officials they could not take away my legal right to vote as I wanted. I attempted many times to put the paper in the ballot box, but they prevented me. Then they threatened me and I had to leave.  read more  Three Referendum 2003 articles -  Maldives Culture  No legal help for family of torture death victim – President Gayyoom's Oct 17 referendum campaign intensifies Despite regular election promises to decentralise government administration and build resorts in distant atolls, President Gayyoom has refused to direct department sections and resorts away from the Male' area. Ignoring offers from foreign airlines and governments, he has resisted the establishment of international airports in the north and south of the country - heavily populated areas that need tourists and the consequent increased demand for fresh fish, imported vegetables and rice, government services and employment.  read more 2003 Referendum rigged as blackout hits Maldives capital Less than 30 minutes after this announcement, just before 1 am, a power blackout paralyzed Malé. A faint rising moon was still low in the eastern sky, leaving the capital in almost total darkness. During the blackout, sources allege, NSS 'riot police' surrounded the official government function house, Dharubaaruge where the votes were being counted, and plainclothes National Security Service officers carried two heavy suitcases into the building. Election officials had left Dharubaaruge just before the NSS arrived.  read more Are fair elections held in Maldives? Foreign observers from respected international institutes are not brought to observe the elections. Sometimes observers from neighboring countries are brought to bring a look of fairness to the election but their authenticity is doubtful. They are given access to few islands where a feeling of fair elections is showed. It is doubtful that they are able to communicate openly with the masses in the islands and even if so any grievances will not come to surface because the observers will be allowed to speak to carefully selected people. In any case even the translators are chosen people. The credibility of the observers themselves is also questionable.  read more  2003 Referendum Satire from Dhon Keyothi  Constellation Koli As we moor, my creaseless companions rip the bag from my head and lift me, in fully insured splendour, up onto their shoulders and towards the thickest of the blazes. There, surrounded by flames and an eerie haze, a single ornate building buzzes with dark decorum. We hurry into a large office where a bespectacled clerk sits in air-conditioned silence surrounded by thousands of small pieces of paper. He looks up, and his squeaky voice commands the room. 'So... Mr. K... we meet... at last.'  read more Statement of the NDI Delegation to the Maldives  NDI Delegation Completes In-Country Assessment Mission of the Opportunities and Challenges for the Development of a Multi-Party System in the Maldives The delegation found broad support for fundamental political change, as well as for many of the recommendations contained in the president's June 9 speech. Most Maldivians with whom the delegation met expressed their hope that the reforms will take place peacefully and expeditiously. However, the delegation also found a deep skepticism expressed by many individuals regarding the genuineness of the government's reform agenda, citing, for example, the recent detention of opposition figures. read more		CONTACT US DO Mobile and SMS Hotline: + 44 770 991 1220 (UK) Submit news/articles Fax:   + 44  808 208 3494 dhivehiobserver@gmail.com Listen to Minivan Radio Download Option Available  DO  QUICK GUIDE THE TRUTH BBC TV Reports urwbwKi     www.maldiviandetainees.net   Reporting network for relatives of persons detained following the demonstration of 12 and 13 of August 2004 in Male, Maldives       CARTOONS / KOTO NEW   ?eveaOtWbokWgurub HUMOUR   Special Majlis Members Call them & demand justice!      cqIfwx : csWmitclia    wvwlihevid NEW POEMS Short Story Maldives; Close your eyes and imagine the History of     Have Your Say DEBATE  REFORM   PHOTO ALBUM     An alternative view point Leaders of tomorrow who will be the next President of Maldives? send in your comments by email "Verily never will God change the condition of a people until they change it themselves."  Holly Qur'an 13:11 THE DREAM By the strength of our common endeavour, to achieve what we cannot do alone, to grant each of us the power to realize our full potential, and the means to create for this and future generations a community in which power, wealth and opportunity are in the hands of the many not the few, where the respect we receive reflect the duties we owe, so that freed from the tyranny of poverty, ignorance and fear, we could live together in spirit of solidarity tolerance and respect. [Clause 4 - Labour Party - UK] No boundaries can hold us!   WE ARE WAKING UP NOW OUT OF THE PAST, TO DREAM A BIGGER DREAM WE ARE FRIENDS AND EQUALS WE ARE DIVERSE AND UNIQUE AND WE SHOULD BE UNITED FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN OUR DIFFERENCES WE BELIEVE IN FREEDOM AND COOPERATION WE ARE A CULTURE EMERGING WE FIND OUR OWN GUIDANCE AND WE DISCERN OUR OWN TRUTH WE GO IN MANY DIRECTIONS BUT WE REFUSE TO DISPERSE WE ARE LOCAL AND GLOBAL WE ARE THE WAVE OF EVOLUTION WE ARE IN EVERY CHILDS EYES WE FACE THE UNKNOWN WITH WONDER AND EXCITEMENT LIVING IN THE PRESENT AND WE SPEAK OUR TRUTH WE CANNOT BE QUIETED BECAUSE OUR VOICE IS WITHIN EVERYONE WE ARE BUILDING A NEW MALDIVES THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE NO BOUNDARIES CAN HOLD US!   Today's Message to Gayyoom Pack your bags and go away from Maldives, please! Let us live in peace! Even my great grand children will hate you for what you are doing to my father. Ahmed, 19, Male' Read all Messages Quotes The only thing necessary for   evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. - Edmund Burke Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
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