:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

International pressure helps Gayyoom release some detainees

By "Donim" - Thursday, 23 September 2004

Gayyoom today released 4 detainees arrested last month for taking part in a peaceful protest against his government.

They include Akku, the son of a member of the Maldives human rights commission, and Mohoj from Zero Degree Atoll, the most prestigious music band in the country.

Analysts here believe that EU threats and international pressure is beginning crack the hard line taken by the Gayyoom government in its response to the August pro-democracy rally.

But several more detainees, including members of the constitutional council, are still being by Maldives police, and Gayyoom is still suspending basic human rights under the guise of a state of emergency.

Released detainees and sources within the national security services have alleged that police committed grave human rights abuses on those arrested.

The abuses include severe beatings, kickings, sexual and verbal abuse men, women, and scores of children, many of whom had not even taken part in the demonstrations.

The government has also admitted that police blindfolded and handcuffed detainees, even as they were being transferred to prisons via sea.

The detainees, both those released and those still in custody, now need a good team of international lawyers to sue Gayyoom and his government in an international court of justice for the human rights abuse, lying to the Maldivian public.

Members of cabinet, including Ismail Shafeeu, Mahmoud Shaugee, and attorney general Hassan Saeed have known of the atrocities carried out on the detainees, but chose to deny them or remain silent as Gayyoom and his spokesman Shaheed continue to lie to Maldivians and the international community that human rights abuses had not taken place.