Month: April 2006

One Day, I will Get Justice – ‘Backbone’ Mahir

In today’s Maldives, with President Gayoom’s ‘democracy roadmap’ and the government’s seductive rhetoric about ‘sweeping reforms,’ it is easy to forget the horrors that the regime perpetrated just a few years ago.
The ‘New Maldives’ team like to brush over the first 26 year’s of Gayoom’s rule. While they don’t deny that “excesses” happened, they’re much happier speaking of the country’s shiny new democratic future than its murky dictatorial past. When one meets Abdulla Mahir, it is easy to see why.
‘Backbone’ Mahir, as he is ominously referred to by his friends, coined the nickname after his spine was snapped by National Security Service (NSS) guards in on 18 January 1995, his eighteenth birthday.
The interrogation team that tortured him and left him permanently disabled was headed by former NSS Sergeant – and now Islamic Democratic Party chief – Umar Naseer.
“Umar Naseer came forward and punched me in the side of the face. Immediately after that Atheef picked me up from my belt and threw me to the floor. I tried to stand but they started kicking me with their military boots. My two friends with me were made to remain sitting in their chairs while I was being beaten.” And that is one of the milder extracts from Mahir’s horrific testimony of his time courtesy of the NSS.
Minivan News met up with Mahir this week in Britain, where he was granted indefinite leave to remain in November, following the UN’s ruling that he had a well-founded fear of persecution should he return to the Maldives.
Sipping cappuccino, sporting a smart leather jacket and tightly cropped hair, Mahir looks noticeably more at ease in London than in Colombo – where Mahir sought refuge last year but where the threat of deportation to Maldives always loomed.
After moving to the UK, he is concentrating on his studies. He has enrolled in an English class and hopes to study computer engineering in the autumn.
Along with his ability to walk freely, Mahir’s education was another thing robbed from him. His youth was mostly spent in Maafushi Jail – President Gayoom’s response to his appeals for compensation for his injuries.
Mahir is also undergoing physiotherapy in Britain but doctors say that his disability is permanent, with no hope of substantial improvement. Is he still bitter about what happened to him? Yes and no.
“I’d like to bring charges against Umar Naseer for what he’s done… if it’s not possible in the Maldives, then internationally,” Mahir says.
He is at pains to add, however, that as a good Muslim he’d be willing to forgive Naseer. “If he confesses, if he apologises publicly for what he’s done, then I could forgive him.”
But Umar Naseer remains unrepentant and the government refuses to acknowledge what happened.
“I would like to make an appeal to people not to join that party [Islamic Democratic Party]. He’s told so many lies against me but most people know about my case. Umar Naseer and I lived in Henveiru ward in Male’, so all his neighbours know what he did,” Mahir says.
“I believe all those senior National Security Service (NSS) officers are indirectly responsible. Anvarie, when he was Defense Minister, warned me no progress would be made with my case. When I met with Gayoom he promised he would investigate… but nothing happened. Those people should also be charged for what they have done.”
Mahir hopes to return to Maldives but is too afraid whilst Gayoom remains in power. “I’m sure I would be attacked again. I have given lots of interviews to [Minivan] radio about what happened to me… I can’t go back.”
He remains in regular contact with people back home, though, and is appreciative of their encouragement. “Friends and family and opposition people in Addu, in particular, have been very supportive. They say they listen to all my interviews and are behind me.”
“I believe, one day, I will get justice.”

In today’s Maldives, with President Gayoom’s ‘democracy roadmap’ and the government’s seductive rhetoric about ‘sweeping reforms,’ it is easy to forget the horrors that the regime perpetrated just a few years ago.

The ‘New Maldives’ team like to brush over the first 26 year’s of Gayoom’s rule. While they don’t deny that “excesses” happened, they’re much happier speaking of the country’s shiny new democratic future than its murky dictatorial past. When one meets Abdulla Mahir, it is easy to see why.

‘Backbone’ Mahir, as he is ominously referred to by his friends, coined the nickname after his spine was snapped by National Security Service (NSS) guards in on 18 January 1995, his eighteenth birthday.

The interrogation team that tortured him and left him permanently disabled was headed by former NSS Sergeant – and now Islamic Democratic Party chief – Umar Naseer.

“Umar Naseer came forward and punched me in the side of the face. Immediately after that Atheef picked me up from my belt and threw me to the floor. I tried to stand but they started kicking me with their military boots. My two friends with me were made to remain sitting in their chairs while I was being beaten.” And that is one of the milder extracts from Mahir’s horrific testimony of his time courtesy of the NSS.

Minivan News met up with Mahir this week in Britain, where he was granted indefinite leave to remain in November, following the UN’s ruling that he had a well-founded fear of persecution should he return to the Maldives.

Sipping cappuccino, sporting a smart leather jacket and tightly cropped hair, Mahir looks noticeably more at ease in London than in Colombo – where Mahir sought refuge last year but where the threat of deportation to Maldives always loomed.

After moving to the UK, he is concentrating on his studies. He has enrolled in an English class and hopes to study computer engineering in the autumn.

Along with his ability to walk freely, Mahir’s education was another thing robbed from him. His youth was mostly spent in Maafushi Jail – President Gayoom’s response to his appeals for compensation for his injuries.

Mahir is also undergoing physiotherapy in Britain but doctors say that his disability is permanent, with no hope of substantial improvement. Is he still bitter about what happened to him? Yes and no.

“I’d like to bring charges against Umar Naseer for what he’s done… if it’s not possible in the Maldives, then internationally,” Mahir says.

He is at pains to add, however, that as a good Muslim he’d be willing to forgive Naseer. “If he confesses, if he apologises publicly for what he’s done, then I could forgive him.”

But Umar Naseer remains unrepentant and the government refuses to acknowledge what happened.

“I would like to make an appeal to people not to join that party [Islamic Democratic Party]. He’s told so many lies against me but most people know about my case. Umar Naseer and I lived in Henveiru ward in Male’, so all his neighbours know what he did,” Mahir says.

“I believe all those senior National Security Service (NSS) officers are indirectly responsible. Anvarie, when he was Defense Minister, warned me no progress would be made with my case. When I met with Gayoom he promised he would investigate… but nothing happened. Those people should also be charged for what they have done.”

Mahir hopes to return to Maldives but is too afraid whilst Gayoom remains in power. “I’m sure I would be attacked again. I have given lots of interviews to [Minivan] radio about what happened to me… I can’t go back.”

He remains in regular contact with people back home, though, and is appreciative of their encouragement. “Friends and family and opposition people in Addu, in particular, have been very supportive. They say they listen to all my interviews and are behind me.”

“I believe, one day, I will get justice.”

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Latheef Outlines MDP’s Position on the Roadmap

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Founder Mohamed Latheef, currently on a diplomatic tour of Europe, talks about the party’s position vis-à-vis President Gayoom’s recently launched roadmap for democratic reform.

MN: In recent interview with Reuters and other news agencies you sounded enthusiastic about Gayoom’s much flaunted Roadmap. Are you confident that this is the beginning of a concerted commitment to reform?

ML: The answer is a categorical NO. I am under no illusion as to Gayoom’s reform initiatives. The despot will not voluntarily dilute his pervasive, hegemonic power. Like I always point out, reform would be political suicide for the despot. Gayoom is not suicidal.

MN: So why welcome it?

ML: I believe that the New Maldivian Choir Boys are the prime movers behind the Roadmap. The Choir Boys’ main intention in pushing the Roadmap is to fulfil their mandate of buying time for the despot. However, such a document would also act as a noose round his neck. The international community sees this as a formal, firm commitment on the part of the despot. A commitment they can hold Gayoom accountable to. The despot will find it increasingly difficult to misbehave or to renege on his words- a situation we must dearly welcome.

The Choir Boys are not idiots; they are educated, smart, articulate smooth operators. Furthermore they understand the imperative for change and for reform. All they can do is buy time for the despot and, perhaps, hope Gayoom has the good sense to fade away.

MN: Talking about buying time, do you think the deadline of June 2007 for ratification of the constitution and October 2008 for elections is reasonable? Will the people exercise such patience?

ML: Absolutely not. Those two arbitrary dates are clear examples of Gayoom’s insincerity. Earlier he gave January 2006 to come up with a new constitution. A guideline for constitution, largely acceptable to both MDP and the government done with the assistance of UNDP, already exists. So what, other than buying time, is the logic behind extending the timeframe? Why wait until October 2008 to hold elections- exactly when the dictator, according to the present constitution would expect to be rubber-stamped for his seventh term. Frankly the timeline stinks. There is no logical reason why the constitution and the election process cannot be completed within a year at the most.

MN: But enabling laws have to be made and people’s awareness towards the new freedom must be raised. All this surely takes time.

ML: Please, please bear with me. It is not lack of laws that makes the Maldives the dictatorship it is. It is not poor public awareness of rights that has turned the country into a brutal police state run jointly by a sadistic despot and his partner in crime, Torturer Adam Zahir. I have said it before and I say it again; it is not lack of laws but the lack of political will on the part of just one individual- dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom- that has turned this peaceful, small, homogenous society into one of the worst dictatorships in the world. So do not blame lack of laws for our miserable plight- blame the despot who is a law unto himself.

MN: And yet you believe in the utility of Roadmaps and dialogue?

ML: Yes, roadmaps because it will bind the dictator and hold him more accountable and if he reneges, subject him to the consequences. As for talks, I believe, as a responsible opposition we owe it to ourselves and to the people of Maldives to find a way out of the present impasse. If it entails talks with the government, so be it.

MN: Have MDP conditions for talks been met?

ML: No, Anni and Jenny remain in detention. Other arbitrary, politically motivated arrests and intimidation goes on unabated. Within hours after of the announcement of the Roadmap, Adam Zahir’s Goon Squad is on the rampage, intimidating, torturing and arresting those involved in the widely attended “Women for Women’s Rights” rally. Are these the actions of a regime on the road to a new democracy as the Roadmap claims? I believe not.

MN: So why talk?

ML: Amongst others, our willingness to talk, a) demonstrates goodwill on our part b) it may strengthen the more rational pro-reform elements in the government c) the consequences of complete disengagement can be even worse d) we have nothing much to lose anyway if the government is unreasonable, we have the option to walk out and e) dialogue may help us reshape the ghastly contours of the Roadmap. At a personal level, as a Gandhian who believes strongly in non-violent resistance, I find dialogue an important, effective tool. Yes, despite the shortcomings and reservations, I do welcome the Roadmap as an important development that may hasten MDP’s efforts to bring democracy and freedom to the people of Maldives

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