Wednesday 13th October 2004
Violence? Violence? Violence? Anything but...
More
pictures of Black Friday
Tuesday 12th October 2004
Ahmed Didi in critical condition
-
Dr Faiz says Didi should be removed from prison
Sandhaanu writer
and prisoner Ahmed Didi is in hospital once again
with serious heart problems. His medical certificate prepared
by Dr Faiz at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital clearly
states that Ahmed Didi has 'severe coronary heart disease'
affecting three heart vessels.
Dr Faiz makes an
unequivocal statement on the certificate: "This patient has to
be kept in Male' as he has a strongly positive TMT. He is at
high risk of getting a heart attack which may be fatal if
prompt expert medical care is not available."
A copy of Didi's
medical certificate is available
here.
There was a dispute
with the NSS guarding Ahmed Didi's hospital bed when they
tried to prevent Ahmed communicating with his brother.
The president's
daughter Yumna was present at the intensive care
unit/operating theatre area. She is employed by the National
Council of Linguistic and Historical Research but seems to
have time for voluntary NSS duties as well. Like her father,
Yumna seems to enjoy watching innocent people die.
Monday 11th October 2004
Abbas
Ibrahim will be elected Speaker of the Constitutional
Assembly tomorrow
Reliable sources have
confirmed that Gayyoom has ordered all the MPs to elect his
brother in law and former cabinet minister Abbas Ibrahim to
the powerful post of the Speaker of the Majlis. In a Dhivehi
article on DO on 5th October, this matter was discussed in
detail. Gayyoom wants to amend the constitution to meet his
requirements and he is used to having his way. In an attempt
to deter people from gathering near the Majlis House
tomorrow, the WebSMS service has been disabled today. It is
expected that the service will be completely cut off
tomorrow. A full report on Abbas Ibrahim will be posted
shortly. Some 9 members of the assembly are in solitary
confinement and will not be able to attend the assembly.
These are amongst the members who staged a walk-out in the
first session held on 19th July 2004. MPs will be frightened
to vote against the government candidate tomorrow fearing
arrest and torture. This is the only way Gayyoom knows how
to run the country. No wonder he is characterised as a
brutal dictator.
Hon.
Dr. Munavvaru brought to the hospital tonight
Confirmed reports say that Dr. Munavvaru was brought to
the IGMH Hospital in Male' this evening. He was brought
in at minutes before midnight and was rushed back to
jail after just half an hour. It is reported that he is
also having trouble breathing and needed some medication
and a check-up. Dr. Munavvaru has been in solitary
confinement since Black Friday August 13th and will miss
the Constitutional Assembly which is due to reconvene
tomorrow. People of Maldives are in good spirit and
talking openly about how to topple the dictator. Now
that the State of Emergency is lifted people will be
more comfortable to come out and defend their rights.
This is perhaps one of the reasons for rushing Dr.
Munavvaru back to the jail cell by speedboat tonight.
Treason charges to ban popular
reformers from constitutional majlis
Gayyoom has instructed his
bureaucrats to ensure that treason charges are laid promptly
against Gasim Ibrahim and other peaceful reformists arrested
over the past two months after the NSS began its attack on the
population of Male' on 13 August, according to unconfirmed
reports.
Gasim Ibrahim became the speaker
of the constitutional majlis (special majlis) by default after
Gayyoom's candidate Ahmed Zahir accepted the position of
speaker of the regular majlis. Ahmed Zahir (one of Gayyoom's
16 unelected appointees to the constitutional majlis) can no
longer take the speaker's role in the constitutional majlis.
The constitution states clearly
that the normal majlis speaker and the special majlis speaker
must be different people. It is likely that Gayyoom will have
his disgraced brother Abdullah Hameed elected as special
majlis speaker. If Gasim and the other popularly elected
reformists are charged before the next special majlis meeting,
probably on 12th of this month, Gayyoom can oust them from the
meeting.
No new members will be elected
for the forseeable future, according to sources, but Gayyoom
will continue the meetings and tell the rest of the world they
are working on a new constitution. The detainees will be
transferred home after they are officially charged with
treason. Sources say they will be sentenced to life in prison
without parole.
Gayyoom and his small band of supporters feel that this is the
remedy for all their problems, and Gayyoom intends to stay in
power until at least 2020.
Special announcement
Maldives Culture founder joins
Dhivehi Observer as International editor
Maldives Culture website editor
Michael O'Shea has joined the Dhivehi Observer editorial
staff. O'Shea is married to Fareesha Abdulla who was formerly
head of the English Department at the Southern Secondary
School (now renamed) in Hithadhoo island, Addu atoll. They
live in Canberra, the capital of Australia.
'I am proud to work with Dhivehi Observer,' said O'Shea
in an interview with the chief editor this morning. 'Twelve
months ago, DO did not exist. Now it is the most influential
news source in Maldives. Haveeru and Gayyoom's other media
outlets are no longer trusted or believed by most Maldivians.'
As a scholar, O'Shea has
specialised in Maldives, Asian and Middle Eastern history and
religions, particularly Islam. He has travelled widely in
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal,
Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Sunday 10th October 2004
Gayyoom
undermines the constitution only an hour after repealing the
State of Emergency
Male', 10
Oct 2004 - The State of Emergency declared in Maldives two
months ago on 13 August 2004 was repealed today at 18:00
hours. An hour after the announcement, the National Security
Service commanded by Gayyoom announced during the 7pm radio
news that people are prohibited to leave their houses in the
capital from 1:30am ? 4:30am and legal action will be taken
against anyone who disobeys this order.
According to
the constitution of the Maldives, the people are free to
assemble. 'Our country is always under a state of emergency.
That is the only way dictators can run a country,' said a
social scientist working in the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Reminder
to Gayyoom
Constitution of the Republic of Maldives
Article 26 - Freedom of Assembly
Persons shall be free to assemble peaceably and
in a manner that does not contravene the law.
|
Prominent pro-democracy
activists may be charged with treason tomorrow
Unconfirmed reports say that
several pro-democracy activists including the most prominent
persons such as Qasim Ibrahim, Ibrahim Hussain Zaki and Dr.
Munavvar will be charged tomorrow with treason. It is believed
that around 13 reformists will be charged. Gayyoom is yet
again twisting the tale and trying to show the world that he
respects the rule of law.
Most political analysts believe this is a deliberate attempt
to gain international support while Amnesty International and
the Red Cross are visiting the Maldives this week.
Furthermore, the American and the German ambassadors were in
Maldives last week to press for the lifting of the state of
emergency and restoring the rule of law in Maldives.
Mr. Nashid, a lawyer at the
Attorney General's office is said to be a major source of the
'treason charges' information being spread in Male'. He is a
Gayyoom supporter and looking for a promotion. Nashid has been
boasting around the capital about his active involvement in
the investigations into Black Friday.
Hon.
Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) admitted to hospital today
Message
on the Occasion of Teachers' Day
Police
raid Paradise Island Resort