:: Dhivehi Observer :: Peoples Press ::

Gayyoom 'loosening his iron-fist' to gain international support

by A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe'), Editor in Chief, 10^th October 2004

A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe')

Dhivehi Observer
Editor-in-chief

Over the past few days, Gayyoom has released some Black Friday detainees, including three members of the constitutional assembly. Hon. Members Ahmed Adhil and Mohamed Naseem are currently under house arrest while Ahmed Athif is released with travel restrictions. Mr. Ali Abdulla has also been released with travel restrictions.

Confirmed reports say that Amnesty International and the International Committee of the Red Cross are to visit the Maldives this week and they have requested meetings with a cross-section of the detainees.

Unconfirmed reports say that Hon. Qasim Ibrahim has been moved to an unknown government house in Male'.

In the same week, people have been detained for sending SMS messages which are critical of Gayyoom's government and people have been arrested for visiting Dhivehi Observer and listening to Minivan Radio. How much more paranoid can a person be? Gayyoom wants to control the thinking of over quarter of a million people. He certainly believes that he is GOD.

Furthermore, several prominent pro-democracy activists have been brought to Male' to be transferred to house arrest. It is believed that these people will speak to the international bodies even in the presence of local police. Eyewitnesses say the Black Friday detainees are in high spirits and even Hon. Ibrahim Ismail, who is currently admitted to the hospital showed the 'V' for victory sign when he saw some friends from a distance as he was taken to ADK Hospital for an MRI scan to establish the extent of the stroke he suffered recently due to lack of physical exercise in prison.

Gayyoom has abused even the most basic human rights including prolonging access to medical attention. DO informants in the NSS confirm that Gayyoom is personally authorising all such operations. It is quite simply an attempt by Gayyoom to intimidate Maldivians. It is a warning to Maldivians not to challenge his autocratic rule.

Gayyoom knows the majority of Maldivians are extremely resentful of his dictatorship. The public are dismayed, angry and confused, and there is no telling what would be the outcome of all these hard-line actions from Gayyoom.

Gayyoom's cruel and inhumane activities have been engraved in the psyche of Maldivians. Even his resignation will not satisfy them now. He must be locked up for life for crimes against humanity, corruption and high treason.