Police arrested 10 people last night following a protest near the main Bank of Maldives (BML) branch, during which protesters tied their hands together with cable ties and demanded they be arrested.
“The marchers, who had symbolically bound their hands together with cable ties, were making their way to police headquarters to present themselves for arrest. However, they were blocked near the President’s Office by riot police and army personnel, and the participants – whose actions had been entirely peaceful – were violently dispersed with salt-water cannons and pepper spray,” Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) spokesperson Hamid Abdul Ghafoor said in a statement.
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said police only used water cannon to disperse the crowd, and that the 10 were arrested for breaching the police cordon near the Bank of Maldives, and going near the President’s Office.
“When police asked them to go back, they did not obey police orders,” Shiyam said.
A visiting German medical student taking photos of the protest, identified as Patrick Crilly, was also taken into police custody prior to the dispersal of the protesters. A video of the arrest showed a policeman in riot gear taking Crilly by the arm and marching him through the police barricade.
“I was told on my release form that the reason for my detention was ‘not following a police order’, but no order was issued for me to follow,” Crilly told Minivan News, following his four hour detention.
“It was very strange, I’m not sure why it happened. It was not something I had planned to experience in the Maldives,” he said.
Crilly said he was on a visa run from Sri Lanka, where he has spent the past three months working as a medical intern at Kalapitiya Hospital in Galle.
“I’m quite familiar with the Maldives – this is my sixth visit,” he said. “I have some good friends here, and I’m very attached to it. I’m not the kind of tourist to just sit on a resort beach sipping drinks. I’m of course interested in what’s going on, and trying to understand what happened. But I had no intention of getting arrested.”
Crilly said he was walked along the road facing the sea near the BML building, and came across the crowd “of about 150 people, protesting loudly and asking the military forces why they were supporting the regime. I was interested to see what was happening, so I took pictures of the scene,” he said.
Initially the crowd had been blocked by defence personnel, he said. “But then a squad of police arrived and took over the scene, and the mood changed. I was in the second row from the front taking pictures, and within 3-4 minutes I was taken away. I don’t know if there was a order in Dhivehi, nobody was speaking any English,” he said.
“I didn’t have long to figure it out, because an officer grabbed my arm and took me away. I did not resist or struggle, but I was irritated. I stayed calm and kept asking the reason why I was being taken away. I must have asked 20 times, but he ignored me. I asked him if he understood English, and he nodded.
“He took me halfway down the road to the police station where another police officer took over, and continued to ignore me, saying only that I would find out at police headquarters. I asked him how the people at police headquarters would know, because they weren’t there, but he ignored me.
“I sat in the front room of the police building for several hours, until eventually I was questioned by two officers in civilian clothes. They said I was charged with disobeying police orders and resisting arrest. I said those allegations were not true, and that no order had been issued for me to disobey.
“He seemed to acknowledge that – they were not unreasonable. He went on to ask why I was in the Maldives.
“I was asked to sit and wait for two hours with no explanation as whether I’d been arrested. Eventually it turned out that they had been writing my release form in English – it took 2.5 hours.
“Eventually I got the paper – It only had my given name, not my surname, which they seemed to have missed from my passport. It said that I had been arrested near the bank for not following police orders, and was released four hours later. It also had the details of the arresting officer.
“While I was in there I saw a steady stream of other detainees brought in, some of them screaming and kicking. I can say I smelled fear – it’s the same smell I must have smelt at least 150 times working at the hospital in Sri Lanka.
‘People were agitated, worried, and an old man was crying. One person brought in by four officers seemed really agitated, and in pain. I did not see anyone physically hurt in the police station,” Crilly said.
Expecting police to be concerned about the contents of his camera, Crilly said he had taken out the chip and put it in his pocket. “They didn’t seem interested, and I didn’t have any pictures of police violence – I was arrested before that happened. Two of my friends were pepper sprayed and if I’d been there of course I would have taken pictures of it.”
Shiyam told Minivan News that Crilly had not been arrested, but confirmed he was taken to police headquarters “where the situation was explained to him in case he was new to the Maldives. For whatever reason he did not obey the order [to leave the cordoned area]. He was not detained long.”
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Some foreign fans of Dictator Nasheed comes undercover and participate in these demonstrations! THE BIG QUESTION IS WHY?
rEASON: NASHEED was paid to complete a mission which was to secularize and let maldivian youth become winelovers like Alhan! He failed due to the greed of Mariya nd Rekko moosa!
- However, they were blocked near the President’s Office by riot police and army personnel, and the participants – whose actions had been entirely peaceful – were violently dispersed with salt-water cannons and pepper spray,” - quote of Hamidh Abdul Qafoor
Really ! What about the throwing of Petrol bombs and stones at MNDF and police who were controlling the protest ? How very one-sided Hamidh ! Trying to downplay the violent acts committed by MDP activists and exagerrating the actions of Police trying to establish rule of law and control the protestors.
Incidentally, Haveeru news reported that none of the senior activists and familiar faces of MDP had participated in this act. The higher ups in MDP had probably convinced some foolhardy guys to go and get themselves arrested, while the higher ups were probably sipping coffee in Jalapeno restaurent laughing at the trick they had played on the protestors they had so gullibly convinced.
@Marie. Anythings better than the Maldivian youth becoming hate mongering, idol smashing, women abusing, child molesting, money hungry haabees which are the current government...
Wow Marie this is how you want foreign people 2 be treated? Even if he was a friend of Nasheed is this how police should treat tourists? We are ashamed of people like you. You will defend any act as long as it suits you. You people want to be so much like the tourists who come here but i'm sure you can't. The cloths or your way of life doesn;t make you cool, honey
Marie,
I am glad you have turned off the ALL CAPS key (for most part). Now dyslexic readers like me can have the pleasure of reading your lucid, intelligent, insightful and thought provoking comments.
Wow. So Nasheed's bringing in undercover agents now? Seriously guys, stop making up stories and look carefully at what is going on right in front of you! This is more proof that this is a coup, and this time the proof's not even coming from MDP! Wake up people!
I doubt he was just a visiting european to this country. He should be in germany sitting his medical books rather than been seen in the middle of MDP thugs. This was not at all a coincidence. You were there to support the actions of MDP thugs and create unnecessary headlines. Besides from the video it seems you were just sidelined by the police because you didn't belong ot be in there. The video doesn't show that the police have shown any force against you, so whay are you complaining. You had no right to be there in the middle of an issue which belongs to maldivians only. Jew Jew simpson always looks for people like you to make stories and exagerate causes, I hope the government deports you and JJ soon from this country.
Marie is that the best you can come up with . Religion ! oh god these arrogant pathetic Maldivian political different mind ppl are using the beautiful islam against its own people . what kind of world are we living in . Nasheed was not send by f**king foreigners he was the first democratically elected leader of this country by our own people . He did not fail but forced out by guns tyrants of this nations and due to people like you who are selfish and jusT don't have respect for religion or for the country in any sense.
Stop having your heads in the clouds.!!! !!!Police and army brutality; There's more to come. You will see. There's gonna be fractions in the security forces now: Of those who do not want the ordinary people injured or acing against one's own brothers and sisters and; secondly those who in the forces are blind with the greed of payment in dosh and will be willing to carry out anything. From what I gather, People are protesting Peacefully; The Riot police are Arresting peaceful Demonstraitors irresponsive of age/gender. Hey! Children are coming to the streets Next!..... WAHEED!!!------RESIGN! OUT WITH CORRUPTION! OUT WTH GAYOUM/WAHEED & CO!PEOPLE.... FREEZE THE CONSPIRATOR WEALTH. !!! THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO ROUTE OUT CORRUPTION FROM MALDIVE SOCIETY. PUT ALL THOSE INVOLVED WITH THE COUP IN JAIL! I think, what's going to happen is; people are so frustrated and feels cheated/criminalized; they are going to march to the presidential palace and take Waheed the Hyena from the neck and chuck him out!The security forces are NOT protecting the people here; So, GET the corrupt officials out too. There is bound to be divisions in the security forces now, as we wait!
The foreign fans should keep away from our politics, I have been seeing a lot of them waving the yellow flag etc..they should be deported.
All of you xenophibic coalition supporters fear these kinds of things happening, so I can understand your irritation.
But this is the reality of the situation: Maldivians are protesting in the thousands - no coalition could ever muster up this kind of man power. And the police don't know what they are doing, they will arrest you and beat you if that's what it takes to carry out their orders from the illegitimate government.
You're scared because people are seeing who you really are.
Think of the damage to the tourism industry this could do?
Marie, Yasir you are from another planet with your theories. Whoeevr pays you to write your utter rubbish deserves a 100% refund tonight. Mind you, as you are so close to the new regime they will probably promote you!
To all the friendly maldivians they wish foreigners should be deported, I would like to remind them, a lot of those yellow waving people are married to some yellow waving maldivians and some other just find that color irresistible 🙂 maybe better than pink or blue or green white and so on!!!! foreigners are almost fashion victims! and very picky by choosing colors! so relax a bit!
i have also been in the same place. I heard some protestors (the vocal ones) saying things like "burn this police guys", "douse them with petrol..." and tings like this. most of those who were there were actually on lookers, the rest were trouble makers.
Unbelievable. Hilarious. Ashamed.
u shud b aware about the laws of the country u r visiting. in the Maldives it is not allowed for foreigners to take part in political protests. if u do ul be arrested. this is not news.
Let me re-quote some of the stuff here:
""Crilly said he was walked along the road facing the sea near the BML building, and came across the crowd “of about 150 people, protesting loudly and asking the military forces why they were supporting the regime. I was interested to see what was happening, so I took pictures of the scene,” he said.
Initially the crowd had been blocked by defence personnel, he said. “But then a squad of police arrived and took over the scene, and the mood changed. I was in the second row from the front taking pictures, and within 3-4 minutes I was taken away. I don’t know if there was a order in Dhivehi, nobody was speaking any English,” he said ""
In the first paragraph he mentions about 150 people protesting loudly ASKING THE MILITARY FORCES WHY THEY WERE SUPPORTING THE REGIME. However in the second paragraph HE SAYS HE GOT ARRESTED BECAUSE HE DID NOT KNOW ANY ENGLISH SO COULDN’T FOLLOW THE POLICE/MNDF ORDER.
QUESTION: IF YOU DON’T KNOW ENGLISH HOW THE F*CK DO YOU KNOW THE PROTESTERS WERE ASKING THE MILITARY WHY THEY WERE SUPPORTING THE REGIME.
Answer: THE story has been modified to the favor of MDP supporters. sweet and simple.
come on minivannews editors. unless you guys are scaredy cats you’ll post this. we’ll see
The police probably thought he was a journalist. They keep forgetting that these aren't the dark ages of Maumoon where they could get away with anything they wanted. The ugly truth will slowly surface, what is above is also below.
Crilly, Are you really a medical doctor? Hard to beleive who is educated to that level would make such ignorent and sensless statements. It will be really intresting your true standard and level of education.Could you put a cannula? Do you know what is early onset Dementia is? If you didn't the get to know it. You might find yourself suffering a bit of that since you seem to forget what you said first towards the end of your interview with Minivan news.I feel pity for the people who you treat.
Must be an ex bf/current bf/ best friend/room mate of one of the Canary girls.....
@tro, How stupid can you be..?? it's clearly said that he does not know dhivehi and when he asked the police why was he being held up there was no response was there any order as the police and MNDF took him away so he doesn't know. And for the what the protesters were demanding, clearly he had time to ask them what their demands are from someone as there were many people and someone would have known English to explain that to him Unlike the police and MNDF who were not cooperating to answer a simple question.
I wish you not as stupid as I think you are..!! But the fact is that this is simple logic and understanding that unfolded. I myself believe that all the there are always different sides to the story. But what makes me sad is that the credibility of the maldivian media has to be questioned. The media shouldn't take sides it should be based on the facts and facts only. Now when ever we turn on the TV or read an article online, we have no idea whether is true or of fictional novel or even remixed song beyond recognition. We should ask ourselves who are we for and for what an illusion of a future or just getting a way back to the past. This country will never be the same as the politicians are hungry for power they are loosing themselves as human beings and is it worth their while to just toy with us. For opposition or the current government I urge them to find a way to a peaceful truce and come to and conclusion of this utter brainless acts of violence outrage and mass corruption......!!!
Why don't Minivan news ever write an article showing the other side of the story? How about writing an article about the police & military soldiers who have been mostly pulling a double shift every day since January 14 & not even getting paid overtime? ask how they feel, facing angry protestors who verbally & physically assault them, accuse them of bribery & treason! Having less sleep & less time with family & loved ones...Ask how their wives/husbands,children etc feel.
It is unfair & ignorant to think that they "HAVE" to do it because its their "DUTY" just because they enlisted to serve the country & protect us. They are also human beings, Maldivians & bleed red when they are cut.
As for the German student being whisked away to police station, what was he doing amidst of all the chaos, taking pictures? Common sense would tell most foreigners & people to stay away & watch from a distance.
In that chaotic atmosphere, it is understandable why the police could have been mistaken...& as for being kept at the station for 2.5 hrs until the english release form was done, Should a foreigner be given priority over a local? did he think that the police snooze all day without any work? The protest is not the only crime happening around here.
Should ever Mr. Nasheed come back to power...i wonder who he is going to use as the police & Military of Maldives? He has already alienated, debased & created hatred for them so what's left is to fire them all. But then he didnt feel ashamed to request for police protection when he visited HA. Dhidhdhoo...ironic isn't it?
Nobody should be treated like this!
What were you doing there anyways in the middle of the night? Clearly you are one of the disguised 'tourist' sent by Nasheed! Pathetic attempt and you sir have failed.
That German is lucky that he was only frogmarched and let go. If that had been a tourist in Germany or for that matter in any country, he would have been handcuffed and thrown into a police cell for at least 24 hours.
These People come to the so called Third World countries and get involved in things that is of no concern to them and then cry wolf.
Maldivian Police are not armed while German Police are and trust me I have seen how they treat violent protesters in Germany and other European countries too. They even set the Police Dogs on you and charge them crowd on Horse back.
Looks too old for a medical student.
My classmates are much younger. 🙂
minivan news pls publish (see I'm being nice 😀 )
@Sadhy
"How stupid can you be..??"
Ans: possibly smarter than you cuz I'm neutral and not biased. Assuming you're biased
"it’s clearly said that he does not know dhivehi and when he asked the police why was he being held up there was no response was there any order as the police and MNDF took him away so he doesn’t know. And for the what the protesters were demanding, clearly he had time to ask them what their demands are from someone as there were many people and someone would have known English to explain that to him Unlike the police and MNDF who were not cooperating to answer a simple question."
Ans: if he had the time to ask the protestors what they were saying, I'm damn sure he'd have time to ask them what the response of the Police was - unless he's totally deaf which is a good assumption since the police would give warnings using megaphones.
"I wish you not as stupid as I think you are..!! But the fact is that this is simple logic and understanding that unfolded."
Ans: believing what you read is a mis-conception. Not every story is the truth. Sometimes you have to witness to believe.
"I myself believe that all the there are always different sides to the story."
Ans: thank you for proving my point 🙂
"But what makes me sad is that the credibility of the maldivian media has to be questioned. The media shouldn’t take sides it should be based on the facts and facts only. Now when ever we turn on the TV or read an article online, we have no idea whether is true or of fictional novel or even remixed song beyond recognition."
Ans: I agree completely. Same applies for this online newspaper too. 🙂
"We should ask ourselves who are we for and for what an illusion of a future or just getting a way back to the past."
Ans: sometimes its smarter to just sit back and watch but when you want peace, you have to act up. example: ME 🙂
"This country will never be the same as the politicians are hungry for power they are loosing themselves as human beings and is it worth their while to just toy with us."
Ans: for someone whose disagreeing with me, we have a lot in common 😀
"For opposition or the current government I urge them to find a way to a peaceful truce and come to and conclusion of this utter brainless acts of violence outrage and mass corruption……!!!"
Ans: the truth is, corruption cannot be completely wiped out. otherwise it'd have gone away and we wont need the Anti-Corruption shizzle. Whether it's Maumoon, Nasheed or Waheed - corruption will emerge somewhere. And what are we all doing? Blame the one at the top. Pretty reasonable if you consider that was the main reason, either by a coup or free will, Nasheed resigned. There is an old saying which goes in Maldives "Bulhi kendeynee keyolhuge athunney" which figuratively means that whatever the mistakes the underlings do, the responsibility and blame always goes to the head.
Rania - and your classmates are likely far less capable!!!
There are some fuc*ing idiots on this site... the Chinese invasion awaits you!!!
MDP should try anything at their disposal to overthrow the illegitimate government of Dr.Waheed.... Believe me its a very old man who is behind all these chaos in this nation.This old man is trying to grab power once again after he lost...I hope he dies soon and our country will return back to normal. I wish Maumoon dies a natural death soon!!
I have seen him around... what's he doing here if he's a medical student?