:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Gayyoom lied on BBC; Home ministry admits detainees were handcuffed and blindfolded

By "Donim" - Wednesday, 22 September 2004

The Maldives government yesterday for the first time acknowledged that some people received injuries as they were arrested in August following the anti-Gayyoom rally.

But a home ministry press released read on national TV last evening blamed what it called "minor injuries" on the actions of the detainees themselves, and claimed that police officers had also been hurt.

The home ministry press release also admitted that the mass arrests involved blindfolding and handcuffing, but said they were necessary as police initially had to take the detainees to the headquarters of the National Security Services.

But in a BBC interview Gayyoom had specifically dismissed as untrue allegations that prisoners were handcuffed and blindfolded.

"That's simply not true", the ageing dictator had said, using his by now well worn denial line.

Gayyoom and his police are under increased international criticism over the treatment of the recent detainees.

But the dictator continues to deny allegations of torture, even though his own human rights commission (formed under a presidential mandate after riots broke out last year against the government) has expressed concern over what it sees as possible human rights abuses during the recent crackdown on dissent.