Day: January 3, 2007

Acting President of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Ibrahim Hussein Zaki, has publicly blamed the government for the increase in crime that is currently spreading throughout the country.

Zaki said that the security situation in the Maldives is getting worse because the government has failed to maintain peace and harmony. He said this was especially true in the capital Male’, where gang violence has increased over the past several weeks.

“The problem is that the government is not capable of maintaining peace and harmony,” said Zaki. “ The government is doing nothing to control the gang violence. If the government works towards controlling violence there would be positive results.”

Zaki continued by saying: “the other reason why gang violence increases is because in a real transition period like this, there should be a national unity government in the country.”

But some analysts have not been convinced by Zaki’s assertion. They say they do not believe it is the government’s lack of harmony that is promoting violence, but that it is rather drug addiction and lack of police enforcement.

Even Police Spokesman, Corporal Shiyam admitted that the recent violence was not political, but rather the result of long standing gang warfare. While Shiyam would not give his opinion on weather he believed the violence was a result of the widespread heroin addiction among Maldivian youths, most analysts are convinced of a link. They also believe the Maldives Police Service is to blame.

On Friday, the Police issued a statement saying that they had arrested nine people in Male’ who were suspected of being involved with local gangs.

Those arrested were between the ages of 16 and 24 and were reportedly bearing weapons near Taise Yard when they were apprehended. The weapons included wooden sticks, steel bars and cricket bats.

Police, however are still searching for gang members who have taken part in this and other fights and are in hiding. This has led many to heavily criticise the force- especially the local press.

The Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) have also said that the disturbances caused by gangs in Male’ have not been effectively controlled by the police.

It said that on three consecutive nights gangs had used “sharp weapons” to attack civilians, houses, offices and properties, causing huge losses and damages.

HRCM also said that it had received reports from civilians that said the police had failed to control the disturbances.

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Eighteen Maldivian trainees returned from Australia last week for the purpose of improving the administration at Maafushi Prison.

Instructed according to recommendations given by the Australian Consultant, the reinforcements reportedly received practical experience in Perth, Western Australia.

The 18 trainees were the final group to receive training under the Home Affairs Ministry’s current programme to improve prison conditions, however, Deputy Minister Azim Shukoor has confirmed that the government plans to send more people abroad for training in 2007.

“Even if the plan doesn’t work out,” said Shukoor, “we will bring international experts home and conduct the training in the Maldives. We will soon start discussions on obtaining the opportunity to send people abroad for training”.

Some critics have recently expressed criticism towards the Ministry’s programme. They say that despite the fact that last year’s trainees are currently working in Maafushi, the prison continues to be unorganised and hectic.

Just this week, Haveeru Daily reported that nearly two hundred prisoners broke out of their cells and began fighting on the grounds.

An official at the Maldives Police Service confirmed that the fight occured on the evening of 31 December, but assured that the incident was immediately brought under control.

While the police refused to give any further details on the situation, the Home Affairs Ministry said that the fight broke out in Unit 2 of the prison after some prisoners attempted to escape. Apparently the security guards needed support form the Police Force to get the prisoners back to the unit.

Despite some minimal damages occurring in the cells, all inhabitants and police officers were unharmed.

In a similar incident that took place earlier in December, 154 prisoners started a rebellion and took Maafushi prison guards hostage after stealing a set of keys.

The prisoners were demanding greater rights, including more time out of their cells. Speaking to Minivan News, one of the prisoners said that he was kept in a cell with just one additional person and only let out from one until four.

He said: “We have been doing what they say but now we are standing up for our rights.”

The Home Affairs Ministry hopes that under its new training programme both the rights of prisoners and prison staff will be more respected and enforced.

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