Editorial - Will it be a White Friday this year in Maldives? :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
Will it be a White Friday this year?

By A. S. I. Moosa (Sappe'), 11th August 2005

Tomorrow is going to be a very important day in the history of our small nation. On August 12th last year, thousands converged near the Republican Square in front of Police HQ in Male' demanding the release of some reformists who were detained without charge. As night went by, the aspirations of the people of Maldives to be free grew bigger and bigger and the crowd began calling for the resignation of Dictator Gayyoom once the detainees were released. The next day Friday 13th 2005 has become an important day in the history of Maldives. As the crowd got smaller because people went for Friday Prayer, Gayyoom's security personnel pounded on the people and arrested several hundred people, amongst them were almost all the leading opponents of Gayyoom who lived or were in Male' that day. Gayyoom committed this crime under the pre-text of declaring a State of Emergency to protect national security. Most lawyers argue that the call was unconstitutional. The day is known as Black Friday, for details please visit www.answers.com/topic/black-friday-maldives.

Several thousands are planning to protest tomorrow calling for the release of 4 prisoners of conscience, Ibrahim Didi, Mohamed Zaki, Naushad Waheed and Ibrahim Fareed, all of whom have been in detention for years for being critical of Gayyoom. There is a new inspiration amongst the public now as well and opposition to Gayyoom has gained momentum quite considerably over the last 2 months since the registration of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and therefore it is fair to assume that many of its members and supporters are likely to participate in the demonstration.

Dictator Gayyoom has extended his shopping holiday in Singapore by more than 2 weeks to avoid being in Male' on these important days and the Maldives Police and the Army have announced some sort of military exercises to be held in Male' coinciding with these dates. Nevertheless, since the beginning of the month, hundreds have converged on the Republican Square and demonstrated in small numbers calling for the Dictators resignation despite attempts to intimidate and torture them by the new Maldives Security known as Star Force.

Many are hopeful of the outcome of the demonstration that is scheduled to take place on Friday. People now want to see the back of this autocratic Dictator who has ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly 27 years now.

International media is fully aware of what is going on in Maldives, which will perhaps make it difficult for Gayyoom to act like a mad dog, as he did last year. There are lots of indications that it might just be a White Friday.