:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

GAYYOOM'S BRUTE FORCE STARTED RAMPAGE BEFORE STATE OF EMERGENCY

By Mariyam Mohamed - Tuesday, 17th August 2004

Scores of boys aged 13-18 were among the first casualties of Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom's extraordinary move to send in his most brutal police to break up a peaceful protest on Friday.

It is now emerging that the first 20 or so 'arrests', which amounted to chasing after unarmed people, mostly children, and beating them up, happened at least half an hour BEFORE Gayyoom declared a state of emergency.

The police rampage started around 2.45 pm. The state of emergency was started at 3.20 pm.

This means the acts of violence committed by Gayyoom's police force against his own people, the most atrocious in living memory and in full public view, cannot be justified as actions taken under the powers invoked by the state of emergency.

As the rampage continued into the night, mass arrests were made, mostly on people who had dared to speak out against Gayyoom in the previous weeks, including members of the special Majlis, lawyers, prominent businessmen, and reform activists.

There are fears that Gayyoom's police may have committed further atrocities on the people arrested. Credible reports suggest that police broke Dr. Munavvar's leg and punched Gasim Ibrahim in the face.

If Gayyoom can allow his police to do this to high-profile detainees, think of what they could do the more ordinary captives.

We must monitor and list every little atrocity and hold Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom responsible every one of the barbaric acts committed by his police.

If he ordered the police to break up the demonstration, then he must be held accountable for every single beating.

If anyone dies from injuries sustained by the massacre, Gayyoom as head of police must answer in court for it, if not in the Maldives then in an international court.

The international community must immediately send in the Red Cross, to visit all the confirmed detainees, and ensure that they are well, and start proceedings for Gayyoom to be made accountable for his actions.