| Main | News | Dhivehi | Editorials | Opinions | Open Forum | About Maldives | Downloads | About us | Links | 09 December 2005 08:06
Abbas Ibrahim chased off Gaddhoo by angry tsunami victims
DO correspondent - 29 December 2004
The people of Gaddhoo island in southeastern Huvadhu atoll, the worst tsunami affected island in the atoll, warned Abbas Ibrahim to leave the island today and he was forced off Gaddhoo early in the afternoon.
Abbas is the Gayyoom-appointed speaker of the Special constitutional Majlis, the People's majlis (parliament) candidate for south Huvadhu atoll and the powerful brother-in-law of President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom.
The public outrage began when Abbas was found discreetly distributing cash in sums of Mrf500 and Mrf1000 to some of his supporters inside a room in Bageechaage, where his campaign office is located. The money was labeled as aid (Abbas Ehee, Abbas aid) for the poor people left penniless by the tsunamis.
Bageechaage is the home of his campaign manager Bageechaa Mohedhey (Mohamed Manik). Abbas distributed the money by asking each person to enter the room individually. Once inside, Mohedhey and Abbas ask the person who he intends to vote for in the election (now postponed until 22 January). If the answer is 'Abbas', then he or she receives between Mrf500 (US$ 40) and Mrf1000 rufiya from Abbas himself.
A man called Presharu Muhudhaa was standing outside the house as a security guard. Abdullah Rasheed (Kaabe), Junaid Jaufar, Centre Samadu and a few socially isolated people like them, were helping Abbas in this bribery. It was going smoothly until a man named Kudhichcha Huthaa came in and when they asked who he was voting for, he said he would vote for Zahir. (Zahir Adam is the richest man in the atoll and a great philanthropist.)
Then he was asked how much money would make him vote for Abbas and Izzath. Kudhichcha's reply came as a shock to Abbas and his campaign manager Mohedhey. He said if he did not to vote for Zahir, he would not be voting for anyone!
So Kudhichcha Huthaa, who lost everything in the tsunami disaster, did not get any aid from Abbas (Abbas Ehee-nudhin). This incident led the public to figure out what was really going on inside the room. Despite lending a helping hand to the poor who were perishing after the tidal waves, Abbas was also doing something inhumane.
People got furious, gathered around Bageechaage and warned him to leave the island as soon as possible. Abbas took refuge in the island office for about 30 minutes, waiting to see if the people got calmer, but things went the other way.
The people, especially those affected by the tsunamis, and the young men, gathered near island office. People were threatening to enter the office and only then did Abbas realise it was time for him to leave.
May God protect us from heartless and cruel people like him.
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