Above: The Maldives National Security Services reacts violently against pro-democracy activists in August 2005 - with security equipment and technology purchased by the state, only being utilised against political opposition.

Maldives Governments Ongoing Violations

President Gayoom's position in the Maldives shares an affinity with all dictatorships. However, he is the longest serving ruler in Asia, and has been consistently condemned for gross violations of human rights, and channelling an unjustifiably large proportion of government funds into consolidating his own position. The Maldives are an island paradise for tourists but hell for non-violent dissidents, with President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, cracking down hard on any free expression of political citicism. Article 25 of the Maldivian constitution states that "all citizens have the right to express their opinions orally, in writing or by any other means." In September 2003, President Gayoom even set up a commission to investigate human rights violations. However, in practice, he continues to crack down on any form of dissent with brutality.

Artist gets 15-year jail term

Painter and political dissident Naushad Waheed was arrested on 9 December 2001 for contacting Amnesty International by e-mail. He was sentenced on 12 October 2002 to 15 years in prison for "an anti-government act. " Tortured several times while detained, he was placed under house arrest in April 2004 to receive medical treatment but was supposed to return to prison when the treatment was over.

E-mail newsletter team still in prison

Three people have been in prison since January 2002 for producing an e-mail newsletter: Ibrahim Lutfy was arrested along with Mohamed Zaki, Ahmad Didi and Fathimath Nisreen (Lutfy's assistant) in January 2002 for producing Sandhaanu, a newsletter about human rights violations and corruption that was distributed by e-mail. Accused of "defamation" and "trying to overthrow the government," Lutfy, Zaki and Didi were condemned to life imprisonment on 7 July 2002. Nisreen, who was only 22 at the time of the trial, received a 10-year prison sentence.

FRIENDS OF MALDIVES RESORT BOYCOTT:

www.friendsofmaldives.org/fom-selectiveboycott.htm

Atoll supports the Friends of Maldives (FOM) boycott to listed Maldive resorts. FOM believe that tourism to these specific resorts have enabled President Gayoom to maintain his power base and stranglehold over the Maldivian people. Consequently, the resorts they suggest to boycott are:

Bandos Island Resort
Cocoa Island
Tulhagiri Island
Dhonveli Beach Resort
Hakuraa Club
Alidhoo
Paradise Island
Olhuveli Beach Resort
Vilu Reef and Spa Resort
Kandooma Tourist Resort
Sun Island
Fun Island
Holiday Island
Royal Island Resort and Spa
Dhoni Mighili Resort
Vakarufalhi Resort
Biyadhoo island Resort
Kalhufahalafushi Resort
Funamadua Resort
Coco Palm Resort and Spa
Makunudu Island Resort

NEWS UPDATES:

16th June 2006 Update:

Atoll supports MDP in strongly condemning the arrest of two of its Members of Parliament, Hon. Mariya Ahmed Didi and Hon. Hassan Afeef and more than 16 other members of the party during a peaceful demonstration calling for the democratisation of the parliament.

4th June 2006 Update:

Atoll is concerned over the ongoing trial of Mr Mohamed Nasheed, the National Chairperson of MDP, on the fabricated charges of terrorism and sedition - and making a mockery of justice and President Gayoom’s professed commitment to democratic reform.
The impossibility of providing a fair trial to Mr Nasheed under the existing judicial system has been clearly spelt out by Mr Nasheed’s lawyer and in the report prepared in September 2005 by a team of British lawyers led by Sir Ivan Lawrence, QC.

26 April 2006 Update

Atoll is concerned at the apparent government-sponsored intimidation of members of the Maldivian Democratic Party. The residence of the MDP President, Hon. Ibrahim Ismail (MP) was attacked on 25th April, causing both damage to the property and severe emotional distress to his family. This is the fourth such attack on the Party President’s residence since January 2006.

MDP are quoted as saying that the latest attack comes immediately in the wake of a formal call by MDP President on President Gayoom to remove Mr Adam Zahir from the post of Police Commissioner - Commissioner Zahir’s failure to take action against well known thugs and members of the police force is largely responsible for the growing crime wave against those who openly oppose President Gayoom’s regime.  

18th April 2006 Update

Atoll is very concerned over the health of Ms Aishath Aniya, Deputy Secretary General of the MDP party who was arrested for her participation in a peaceful demonstration in Maldives on 14 April 2006. Ms Aniya was exercising her constitutional right to peaceful protest when arrested. She is reported to have been on a hunger strike since her arrest.

24th March 2006 update:

Atoll supports the Maldivian Democratic Party's paper entitled The First step toward Democratic Reform in the Maldives, which was produced by the MDP on 15 March 2006 and published in PDF format on the MDP's website:

http://www.mdp.org.mv/images/pdfs/first%20step.pdf

Note: The paper is intended to highlight President Gayoom’s insincerity in implementing
reform pledges he made in his June 2004 speech. The paper discusses the importance of removing unelected members from the Maldivian Assembly (also known as the People’s
Special Majlis) to redraft the constitution. The MDP is confident that this constitution could be amended in less than 3 months, provided President Gayoom removes his unelected supporters from the Assembly, and ceases to influence and undermine the proceedings. The MDP believes that once the constitutional amendments are completed, a multi-party election could be organized in 3 months, thus creating the conditions for a democratically elected government to be formed before the end of 2006. The MDP insists that this is the only way forward towards democratic reforms in the Maldives without violence and instability.

Maldives Political Opposition Party Site:

www.mdp.org.mv

Human Rights Report:                                                                 

www.friendsofmaldives.org/fom-humanrightsreport.htm 

Resort Boycott

www.friendsofmaldives.org/fom-selectiveboycott.htm

Minivan Radio:                                                                               www.minivannews.com