:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

An insight into the fate of Black Friday detainees

Mariyam Mohamed, Male', 3^rd Sept 2004

Thousands of Maldivians demonstrated peacefully from 6 pm Thurs 12/8 - 3 pm Fri 13/8

Just after 3 pm Fri 13/8 Police pounded on the demonstrators and arrested hundreds

Police uses rubber bullets, tear gas and batons when apprehending the public; the use of excessive force is evident

A teenager being apprehended on a roof of a house, he was stripped naked and thrown from the roof to the ground, he sustained major head injuries and 2 broken legs according to eye witness

We are now able to give a clearer picture of how some of the people were arrested on the 13th August 2004 in connection with the pro democracy demonstration in Male'. This report has been compiled with first hand information both from Maafushi Jail and Dhoonidhoo interrogation centre.

Most of the detainees were blindfolded and hand cuffed for the first 20 hrs of their arrest. They were taken to Girifushi, which is a training camp for the NSS. 176 of them were held in Girifushi for 8 days. There were many children and youth among those initially detained. They were also treated in exactly the same manner and fashion as the adults. Many were severely tortured during this period. Women detainees were even sexually molested.

100 children were released after the initial 8 days.

On the 21st August 2004, some of the detainees were taken to Dhoonidhoo interrogation center and about 30 were taken to Maafushi Jail. Those brought to Maafushi jail were kept in cells with 4 people sharing each cell. These cells are 9 feet X 6 feet X 6 feet and designed as solitary confinement cells. The EU fact finding mission did not meet them but two deputies from the US Embassy in Colombo visited them on the 30th August 2004. In this meeting some of the detainees did explain the situation to those who arrived.

There has been no investigation on those detained in Maafushi jail other than the very first statements taken form them on the night of their arrest.

From this source and other sources we believe that at present there are 28 detainees in Maafushi jail. 2 persons were reportedly released from the jail yesterday.

The remaining detainees are held in Dhoonidhoo. Some 5 detainees to include, Qasim Ibrahim, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki, Dr, Moahmed Munawwar, Ali Abdulla and one other are held separately from the others in a house outside the jail complex. The remaining detainees in Dhoonidhoo are held in solitary confinement. Their condition is not known at all.

All the detainees are requesting for legal representation. Neither have they been provided with such representation nor have they been given the opportunity to seek for legal representation for themselves.

The Truth : Gayyoom is a tyrant