:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Gayyoom unrepentant; the sinister revenge rampage continues

Donim, 7th October 2004

Dictator Gayyoom

Maldives dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom 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 Gayoom'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 since the arrests, imprisonment, rapes and torture by Gayyoom's NSS began on 13 August.

Ibrahim Ismail, the Male' member of the Special Majlis (constitutional council), is the latest popularly elected reformist to be rushed to hospital with a life-threatening condition. Last week, Special Majlis member Gasim's German doctor was refused access to examine him, even though he had developed a serious cardio-vascular condition in prison.

Dr Azeez and others at IGMH refused to reveal what drugs the Maldives government might be administering to Gasim and other prisoners.

Both the Maldives human rights commission and members of an EU fact-finding mission have visited the detainees and found enough evidence to be concerned about human rights abuses. Meanwhile, eyewitnesses, released detainees and sources inside the NSS police have confirmed grave human rights abuses including violent kickings, beatings, sexual and psychological abuse of men, women and children. Gayoom's NSS transported blindfolded and shackled prisoners by sea to their various island prisons without putting them in life-vests.

The international community must understand that Gayoom's police have killed, raped and tortured before and got away with it.

When the horribly maimed corpse of prison inmate Hassan Eevan Naseem was exposed to the whole world last year on 20 September 2003, Gayoom as the head of the armed forces which had carried out the murder he had ordered, did not bother to apologise to the people. Later he was forced to publicly denounce the action of his police and order an inquiry into Naseem's murder and the shootings that followed the next day.

A year later, and not a single police officer has been convicted of the murder and key findings of the inquiry, particularly those relating to the chain of command, remain hidden from the public. Instead, Gayoom has praised and promoted NSS officers, including former State Defense Minister Anbaree (now promoted to dubious diplomatic status) and Police Commissioner Adam Zahir (promoted to NSS Brigadier-General) who carried out Gayyoom's orders leading to the beating to death of Evaan Naseem and the mass shootings next day in September 2003. Both men have a long history spanning several decades of murder and torture of prisoners.

There can be no doubt that Gayoom is currently on a sinister revenge rampage, torturing, drugging and raping all those who have spoken publicly against him.

His NSS have failed to uncover any evidence against the arrested reformists other than peacefully challenging Gayoom's corrupt and brutal regime. Gayoom does not care if any of the detainees die in prison; he wants to stifle opposition and spread fear and paranoia among the population.