Unrest in Maldives ... continue :: Maldives News :: Dhivehi Observer

Editorial
Maldives Unrest - New crowds outside Presidential Jetty

By Minivan News, August 13, 2005

LIVE UPDATES ON ANNIVERSARY OF 12-13TH 2004 PRO-DEMOCRACY RALLY

SATURDAY 13 ( to Maldives time)

03:21PM: Reports state Mohamed Nasheed and Ahmed Abbas refusing to leave Dhoonidhoo until all detainees arrested yesterday and today are released

02:44PM: Crowds gathering by Presidential Jetty demanding release of Mohamed Nasheed

02:12PM: Reports state Mohamed Nasheed (Anni) and others being transported back to Male' from Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre

12:30PM: Jeniffer Latheef, Latheefa Umar and Aminath Shareef have been released from Dhoonidhoo and placed under country arrest.

11:10AM: Reports state that Gayoom’s former bodyguard Ahmed Suhail has been arrested.

11:00AM: Reports indicate more arrests of MDP supporters. These include Mohamed Mahir (Kurendu Mahir), Majeedh (Majeedhuge), Mohamed Areef (Rankokaa Areef) as well as Djaadjara Naseem.

8:27AM: MDP Councillor Mohamed Ziyad (Ziattey) arrested

8:14AM: All roads surrounding the Maldivian Democratic Party Haruge Freedom Tent have been blocked. Riot police are sitting down in the roads leading to the tent, where the MDP holds political rallies. Previously, eyewitnesses reported seeing police dismantling the tent, removing iron poles and other materials - which were later broadcast on state-run TV Maldives as "weapons discovered" in MDP premises.

7:49AM: Democracy activist and Director of AAA Resorts, Ali Shiyam, handcuffed and arrested by eight police officers

07:47AM: Democracy campaigner Shuaib Ali arrested

05:58AM: EYEWITNESS REPORT OF HARGUE BEING STORMED: “I was there at the Hargue tent all night – with Ziattey (MDP Councillor Mohamed Ziyad) and others. We wanted to stay in the tent until all the MDP members were released. Many people were there: ladies and children and old men and women sitting there and waiting peacefully. Suddenly many police came in… hundreds of them.

They told us to leave peacefully but some people refused the leave until the MDP prisoners had been released. Then the police started attacking people. I saw infront of my own eyes police kicking one little boy of around thirteen until he went numb.

All the roads near the tent have been blocked. While I was leaving the place, one police officer started pushing me and I said “If you want to arrest me you can but please don’t touch me" then they [the police] surrounded me I was kicked in the back.

Now the police are destroying the Hargue tent but still some MDP supporters are left in there. Cops are searching for people. They are behaving like wild dogs… and they are roaming around Male’ in buses. What do they need to use weapons against innocent Maldivians? I saw them using electric shock batons tonight and saw some people being dragged on the ground and hit over the head by the police. They also used filthy language against us."

04:31AM: Police surround MDP Haruge Freedom Tent in lorries, and storm the tent

04:30AM: MDP Harugue Freedom Tent stormed by police - many beaten, arrests made

01:32AM: Reports from MDP's Haruge Freedom Tent say over 2,000 MDP supporters bunking down and saying they will not go home until MDP members arrested today are released.

12:45AM: Reports from Haruge state that Gayoom had briefly gone to the police station in Male’ this evening but has now left Male’ for his holiday island Aarah.