News Archive from 8th - 13th September 2004
Monday, 13th September 2004
Maldivian Democratic Party
Press Release
Maldives cabinet reshuffle: musical
chairs, whilst pro-democracy MPs remain in prison
President Gayyoom of the Maldives
initiated a cabinet reshuffle today, the first major
change in government since the mass pro-democracy
protest of 12/13th August, the subsequent
arrest of pro-democracy activists and the declaration of
a State of Emergency.
read more
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Abdullah Hameed |
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Local
News
Maldives
Cabinet Reshuffle : Speaker of the Parliament Abdullah
Hameed is sacked
Another musical chair session
result has been announced by Gayyoom in the Maldives
today.
The most striking was the sacking of Gayyoom's brother
Hameed from the post of Speaker of the Parliament.
Justice Minister Zahir has been transferred to the post
of Speaker now.
Also today, Gayyoom's long term friend, Dr. Zahir
Hussain resigned from the cabinet. He was the Minister
of Youth and Sports.
Other changes to the cabinet included, one new
appointment.
Incumbent Health Minister Ahmed Abdullah has been
transferred to the Information Ministry.
Incumbent Information Minister Ibrahim Manik, Gayyoom's
brother in law is the new Youth and Sports Minister.
Incumbent Gender Minister Aneesa appointed as Health
Minister.
A new appointment, Zahiya Zareer is the new Gender
Minister.
A full analysis
of these cabinet reshuffle is underway and will be
published shortly.
What is Gayyoom planning with the Chinese?
"China attaches great importance to developing friendly
relations and cooperation with the Maldives", says
Chinese President Hu Jintao.
Maldives Info
The Chinese Government has expressed its support of the
policies of the Government of the Maldives on recent
internal developments in the country. The President of
China, Mr. Hu Jintao, expressed his support in a letter
that he sent to President Gayyoom.
read more
Agitating for the end of a feudal system
The Sunday Leader
The NSS had assured protestors
they would not shoot at the crowd and nobody would be
arrested, a part of the mob began throwing bottles at
police headquarters. As a result of this commotion riot
police were summoned who descended on the protestors and
began to beat them with truncheons as well as arrest
them. Tear gas was also used. Women too were allegedly
beaten and rushed to hospital with injuries.
read more
iawgunWdnwh eg"urukuhuLwk" ,cTcswgoa 13 *
Sunday, 12th September 2004
Early
Day Motion on Maldives gaining support in the British
Parliament
read more
Early Day Motion: MALDIVES
- Oaten/Mark - 22.07.04
That this House, seeing the developing
situation in the Maldives, urges President
Gayyoom and all sides to work for urgent,
peaceful democratisation; abhors the
detention and torture of political prisoners
as documented by Amnesty International;
urges the full recognition of the Maldivian
Democratic Party; and urges the British
Government to strengthen its representations
on the matter and British and other
companies present in the Maldives to refrain
from any activity that impedes the growth of
democracy.
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Please, save us from
Dictator Gayyoom!!!
Once, his target was the
scholars of Islam, who criticized his abuse of religion
to stay in power and the misleading of an ignorant
citizen. Then it evolved into a philosophy, a dogma that
anyone who opens up his/her mouth against him or any one
who opposes him should be subjected to torture. No
distinction is to be made between the children, the
young, the old, the men, the women in this. read
more
Transcript of the
President's interview to Mr. V. S. Sambandan, Special
Correspondent, The Hindu
Venue: Shaheed Ali
Hall, The President’s Office
Time: 1300 hrs, 2nd
September
President:
I think the country is now
ready for a transition from the traditional systems that
we have known to new modern systems. I think there are
now more people in the country who are educated. There
are thousands of graduates, and hundreds holding
masters' degrees and several with PhDs. So, the country
is ready now for a change. read
more
Editorial
 Monocracy of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom
26 years later, he can be classed only as a brutal
dictator. Gayyoom has surpassed any other dictator we
Maldivians have ever known. He has created a society in
which power and wealth and opportunity are in the hands
of a very few Maldivians who have no desire to share it.
He has created a society in which education is by
selection and expensive, health service is under funded
and inadequate as well as inaccessible, the national
security service is trained to protect the government
and not the public. Gayyoom has created a society in
which there is no justice or rule of law but his will.
This is known as autocracy, synonyms of which are
dictatorship, monocracy, tyranny and despotism.
read more
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egUdWyib iaWrwviliv *
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ITis
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Saturday, 11th September 2004
www.ned.org
A
blast from the past
Burma Announces A New Road-Map to Democracy
There is fresh hope that Burma's pro-democracy leader
Aung Sang Suu Kyi may be released from house arrest. The
ruling military government has announced a new road map
to democracy, and says it will hold free and fair
elections in the country. VOA's Prerna Kumar looks at
what this means for the ongoing struggle for democracy
in Burma.
read more
www.keralianext.com
Rights bodies want Maldives to release reformists
New Delhi International human rights bodies are rallying
to get released up to "several hundred" reformists
detained in Maldives for anti-government protests. The
detainees, including children, are at risk of torture
and need medical attention, they say.
read
more
Gayyoom's
smear campaign against EU
What is Nirj
Deva's real agenda?
Deva hastened to
enlist Maldives for an EU sanction. Didn’t he know that
it would be the ordinary people of this country who
would bear the brunt of such an action? As a Maldivian,
I have only one message for this Brown Englishman: you
are not invited, and you are not welcome in the
Maldives, ever!
read more
Maldives
hits back at EU criticism of emergency
rule
The Maldives has rejected European Union
statements that its envoys were denied
access to pro-democracy activists jailed
after rare anti-government protests in
South Asia's most expensive tourist
locale.
"The statement the EU delegation was
denied access to the detainees is
incorrect and creates a false impression
that the government of Maldives had not
co-operated with the delegation," a
government statement late Friday said.
It said an EU five-member fact finding
team who preceded the top envoys' visit
last week was allowed to meet the
detainees detained last month after the
Maldives instituted emergency rule.
The EU said in a statement Wednesday its
envoys, accredited as ambassadors to the
Maldives but resident in the Sri Lankan
capital Colombo, were denied access to
pro-democracy activists held by Male.
read more
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!Wvcawrukcswd cnuhUn udwaim
"cnuvcnwmwyik
cSwncnirev"
Press Statement
Ministry of Foreign Affair Press Release on the
declaration by the Heads of Mission of the European
Union accredited to the Maldives on the State of
Emergency in the Maldives
Asian Centre for Human
Rights
Maldives: Emergency and tyranny in the Blue Lagoon
On 13 August 2004, President Abdul Maumoon Gayyoom of
Maldives proclaimed emergency under Article 144 of the
1988 Constitution of Maldives to suppress peaceful and
democratic protests. The protest started on 12 August
2004 evening when a group gathered outside the national
police headquarters in capital Male demanding the
release of four reformists detained earlier. As more
people joined the protesters after Friday prayers on 13
August 2004, the authorities decided to release the
detained reformists. But the gesture failed to pacify
the pro-democracy activists who also demanded the
immediate resignation of hardline minister and President
Gayyoom's brother, Yameen, Executive Secretary to the
President, Abdullah Shahid and the Male's Police
Commissioner, Adam Zahir.
read more
Friday, 10th September 2004
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Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) |
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Gayyoom is unrelenting
On the 13th August 2004 President Gayyoom found his long
reign under intense pressure. Large crowds at times
numbering ten to twelve thousand took vigilance for
political prisoners and detained activists in the
Republican Square adjacent to the Head Quarters of the
National Security Services (NSS). The vigilance started
on the morning of the 12th August 2004 and it was
brutally broken on the afternoon of the 13th August
2004. Mr. Gayyoom ordered the crack down and arrested all
the pro-reformers. The charge to arrest and the manner
of it was extremely brutal. Limbs were broken, skulls
cracked, young boys were rammed to the payment.
read more
Reuters
EU urges Maldives to lift state of emergency
COLOMBO, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The European Union urged the
Maldives on Wednesday to lift a state of emergency
imposed after protests last month and respect rights of
detained demonstrators, saying a heavy hand could hinder
promised political reforms.
An EU delegation that visited the idyllic Indian Ocean
resort island chain this week added that the government
of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom had denied it access
to dozens of detainees rounded up after thousands of
people took to the streets of the capital, Male, in
August to protest for change.
read more
British Prime Minister briefed by DO on Maldives
issue
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair was sent a letter
by Ahmed Moosa (Sappe') Dhivehi Observer
Editor in Chief, earlier this week requesting the Prime
Minister to help Maldivians in their pursuit of
democracy and freedom. Mr. Moosa said in his letter "Over
the past 10 months, the situation has deteriorated
severely (in the Maldives). The final blow to our hopes
was on 13th August 2004 when Gayyoom arrested
hundreds of pro-reformists and labelled them as
fundamentalist elements, terrorists or traitors,
attempting to overthrow Gayyoom. The demonstration was a
peaceful protest to release pro-reformists who were
arrested during that week."
read more
Opinion
The greatest threat to Islam is Maumoon's
Bastardized form of Islam
An innocent taxi driver walking along Maaveyo Magu was
picked up by the NSS on the 13th Aug. He was handcuffed
& blindfolded. Then some one started beating him. He
called out "LAA ILAAHA ILLAHLAAH" (there is no god but
Allah) when he was hit on the kidneys. To which his
torturer replied "KALEYGE KALAANGE EH MIYADAKU KALEY
SALAAMAY KURAAKAH NAANAANEY" (your god is not going to
save you today).
read more
Thursday, 9th September 2004
Editorial
Maldivians are told that European Community is lying to
the world; "You know no?"
"We
met all the demands of the fact finding
mission. We arranged them to meet and
interview government institutions. In
addition, when requested we arranged for
them to meet some detainees. We also gave
that delegation the opportunity to meet with
Members of the Constitutional Assembly. As a
matter of fact, we don?t have to arrange all
that during an investigation. Therefore the
story that EU did not get access to
detainees is not a true story" said
the Maldives Foreign Minister in the press
conference given to local media today.
read more
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9 eg cTcswgoa 19 eg "
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Inwvim ejcaWrihevid " iawg (clIluHwt urwbwK)
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wmwncnUn cnehea
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cSwrutia
.evehInurekun
Draft Council Conclusions on EU Guidelines on
Human Rights Defenders
The EU supports the principles contained in the
Declaration on the Right and responsibility of
Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to
Promote and Protect Universally Recognised Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Although the
primary responsibility for the promotion and
protection of human rights lies with states, the
EU recognises that individuals, groups and
organs of society all play important parts in
furthering the cause of human rights.
read the document
Ministers' pay - A
Well-guarded Secret of the Maumoon Government.
Minister's salary is one of
the best-kept secrets of the Maumoon's
government. For over 10 years nobody, except a
very few at the President's Office and the
Ministry of Finance know how much is being paid
out to the government's elite, the ministers.
While they attend and sign registers at their
respective offices one wonders why they cannot
be paid from their places of work rather than
the President's Office. The truth behind their
well-guarded and secretive pay lies the hefty
figure they are monthly handed over by the
highest office of the country.
read more
BBC News
Maldives urged to free detainees
Protesters
were demanding political reform. The European Union has
called on the Maldives to free dozens of dissidents held
without charge since August.
An EU delegation which visited the island nation said it
was denied access to detainees, including a former
attorney general and a former minister.
At least 180 people were arrested and a state of
emergency was declared after a pro-democracy rally last
month.
The government denied withholding access, and said
investigations against those being held were ongoing.
read more
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ufWscniaEb irevWyinwa
IkwTOv
*
.evekerWbwdwgurwv Wviawfibil cSwncnutiycawr
cSwmulWTcawvcnwkirev
ctogWlcTOv iawguSwrcSwr egEretejcaWr *
Wednesday, 8th September 2004
rwbcmeTcpes 10 -cmWrcgorup ObcmwyEh *
MDP shares EU disappointment
MDP press release - 7th
September 2004
The
Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) welcomed the statement
by the EU and shares its disappointment in being denied
access to political prisoners arrested after the August
13-14th demonstrations.
read more
Declaration by
the Heads of Mission of the European Union accredited to
the Maldives on the State of Emergency and the detention
of Members of the Special Majlis.
The
Heads of Mission of the European Union accredited to the
Maldives sent a delegation to Maldives to discuss the
detention of Members of the Special Majlis, the events
that led to their arrest and the reform process. On 6
September 2004 the European Union delegation met the
Maldivian Minister of Foreign Affairs. read
more
DO
Exclusive
'Zero Degree Atoll' concerned over Mohoj's solitary
confinement
'Zero
Degree Atoll'
 is
one of the most prominent Maldivian bands. One of it's
founder members, Mohamed Hasen Didi (Mohoj) was arrested
on 13th August 2004 for participating in the
pro-democracy demonstration that day. Confirmed reports
say that Mohoj was blindfolded for over 20 hours and
kept handcuffed to his back for 8 days.
"He will not even hurt a fly, how can he be arrested for
being violent? This is absolutely outrageous!" said his
long term friend and partner, founder and the leader of
Zero Degree Atoll, Mr. Ahmed Nashid.
read more
EU seeks end to Maldives emergency, envoys denied
access to detainees
European Union envoys just back from a fact-finding
visit to the Maldives called in a statement received
here Wednesday for an end to the emergency in the Indian
Ocean archipelago.
The envoys, who are accredited as ambassadors to the
Maldives but resident in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo,
said they met Maldivian Foreign Minister Fathullah
Jameel on Monday to discuss the situation but were
denied access to detainees.
Diplomats said the EU delegation had wanted to visit
members of parliament detained for their alleged
involvement in a pro-democracy rally in the capital
island Male last month.
"Despite their request, the EU delegation was not
granted access to the detained members of the Special
Majlis (parliament)," the envoys said in a statement.
read more
Local
News
Gayyoom freezes the bank accounts of Black Friday
detainees
Confirmed reports
say that Gayyoom has instructed the banks in Maldives to
freeze the accounts of the detainees of the Black
Friday, 13th August 2004. Instructions are
given to Bank of Maldives, Bank of Ceylon, State Bank of
India and HSBC Bank. Sources in the banks have confirmed
that they have been sent a long list of the names of the
detainees such as the honourable members of the
Constitutional Assembly, Mr. Qasim Ibrahim, Dr.
Munavvaru and Mr. I. H. Zaki amongst others.
Furthermore, no payment can be processed from these
accounts accept with the approval of the authorities.
Wire transfers to overseas accounts will also be
monitored and details of the payees must be disclosed to
the authorities. Gayyoom is hoping that this action will
lead to the dissidents of the Maldives who are living
abroad to stop their activities and operations due to
shortage of funds.
Police and NSS personnel in detention
Informants in National Security Service and the
Defence Ministry say that a number of their own
personnel are also in detention now. Most of them are
associates of pro reformists and openly expressed their
support for the pro democracy movement.
Two weeks back Mr. Shimhad Anees of
Moonlight Villa, Ga. Dhevvadhoo was arrested because he
wrote a letter to Hon. Qasim Ibrahim supporting Mr.
Qasim's hard work to bring more democracy to the
Maldives.
Local pundits say that Gayyoom is
absolutely paranoid and wants to ensure that all the
reformists are taught a lesson this time around. Also,
it is envisaged that he will be keeping the reformists
in custody for as long as he can. The earliest any of
the key members will be released is by middle of
November by then the new Legislative Assembly (Citizens'
Majlis) will be elected. Gayyoom and his government know
the popular support for reformist members in the
islands. Most of the potential candidates of the reform
movement are now behind bars and Gayyoom can now easily
elect people who are on his side. We have confirmed
reports from major islands such as Thinadhoo, Fuah Mulah
and Hithadhoo, that Gayyoom's government candidates are
already campaigning for the upcoming elections.
Government is in fact sponsoring trips by these hardcore
supporters of the regime, some of who are in fact
members of the cabinet.
!ejcaemukin 13
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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."
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]
N o
boundaries can hold us!
OUT OF THE
PAST, TO DREAM A BIGGER DREAM
WE ARE
FRIENDS AND EQUALS
WE ARE
DIVERSE AND UNIQUE
FOR
SOMETHING BIGGER THAN OUR DIFFERENCES
WE BELIEVE
IN FREEDOM AND COOPERATION
WE ARE A
CULTURE EMERGING
AND WE
DISCERN OUR OWN TRUTH
WE GO IN
MANY DIRECTIONS BUT WE REFUSE TO DISPERSE
WE ARE THE
WAVE OF EVOLUTION
WE ARE IN
EVERY CHILDS EYES
WE FACE
THE UNKNOWN WITH WONDER AND EXCITEMENT
BECAUSE
OUR VOICE IS WITHIN EVERYONE
WE ARE
BUILDING A NEW MALDIVES
NO
BOUNDARIES CAN HOLD US!
by email - 29th
August 2004
Today's
Message to Gayyoom
Come to your senses and listen to your people. You
might sill be in power but are you there because people really want you
to be? Think hard, no one lives forever. I advise you to do some good
before your time is up. Listen to the world too! They can't all be
lying, or can they?
Hassan Ibrahim, Male'
Read all Messages
Open Forum
I am sure many in the Maldives
will suffer from EU sanctions specially a travel ban on tourists. Yet I
welcome the action of EU with glee because I don't see a bright future
for us with the kind of changes Gayyoom is half-heartedly trying to
bring about.
Gayyoom never realised he cant play the fool with EU. Now they have
exposed him for the dictator he is. The credibility of EU's fact finding
mission cannot be undermined by press statements of a tyrant.
Hardly anyone will believe the government claims of an attempt by
pro-democracy activists to bring about a coup on "Black Friday" to
overthrow the government. Gayyoom's stating that it was a violent
demonstration holds no water.
It is high time Gayyoom left because he has made the whole world refer
to Maldives as not paradise but as a "hell-hole". He has brought
disrepute to our nation with his tyranny and perpetual lies.
The best Gayyoom can do now for our country is resign and if he is man
enough face justice for his crimes to prove to us that "No one is above
the law".
Hiyama <amoamahaana@hotmail.com>
Koh Male', Thailand - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 12:54:50 (MDT)
The new minister must
sack the old guards who is so corrupt. Unless we see those changes soon
the ministers themselves will be corrupt like their subordinates.
Asim
Male, Maldives - Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 12:46:48 (MDT)
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