‘Truth and Reconciliation’ Commission proposed for the Maldives

A South African-style Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) has been put forward as a means of mending political and social divides in the Maldives, following President Mohamed Nasheed’s radio address last week calling for the investigation of past injustices.

“I am saying this as a person who has seen these things very closely. Many people have died. Many people were killed. The lives of many were ruined. Many people’s lives were destroyed to the point where they had no future,” Nasheed said, calling on the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) to look to the past and become “a commission that properly works for human rights in this country.”

In an interview today with Minivan News, President of HRCM Ahmed Saleem said while he agreed “that while the violations of the past need to be looked into, I also think that right now the country is divided and facing problems of politics and religion. I’m very concerned – we’re a small country of 300,000 people and we can’t afford to have such divisions,” he said.

An investigation spanning the time of the former government risked “setting a precedent for a witch-hunt whenever there is a change of government.”

“Personally, I don’t think the president wants to dig into the past,” Saleem said. “But he is under a lot of pressure from others in his government who suffered greatly under the former regime. He is a politician and he is doing what he has to do.”

An alternative to HRCM’s involvement, he suggested, was to create a separate commission “to look into the past with the intention to unify, rather than punish.”

Such a commission would not undermine HRCM “because our mandate states that we must send matters to the courts, and we [rarely] investigate anything that occurred before 2000. We try to mediate and find solutions.”

In contrast, the new commission would “allow those who were abused to ask for forgiveness, and those who were abused to forgive,” he said.

“It would need the approval of the People’s Majlis and the major political parties; such a set up would need the power to convict, the power to forgive, and also a lot of money, because the process would have to last at least two years.”

While the South African TRC had the power to convict following the abolition of apartheid, in practice many perpetrators of human rights abuses were given civil and criminal amnesty in exchange in return for truthful testimony. The project was widely considered successful and a key component of South Africa’s transition to a free democracy.

A similar commission in the Maldives would have to be agreed upon by major parties and protected from becoming a political weapon, Saleem suggested, questioning the wisdom of limiting the mandate of such a commission to 30 years.

“We need a strong opposition to keep the government accountable,” he said. “It’s very important for the president, the government and the Majilis to unite the country, and the opposition [DRP] will not agree to any investigation of less than 30 years.”

This would place Ibrahim Nasir’s government within the mandate of the TRC, including his brutal 1962 suppression of the United Suvadive Republic and destruction of Havaru Thinadhoo.

“The mandate must be to learn from past mistakes so as to avoid them in the future, and in the process unite the country and strengthen democracy,” Saleem proposed. “Democracy alone will not unite the country.”

Departure from promise

Shortly after his election, President Mohamed Nasheed famously asked Maldivians “to follow my example and leave Gayoom to grow old here”, a reconcillatory statement many interpreted as a mark of the new president’s forward-looking approach to governing the country. In this sense, Nasheed’s request last week that HRCM to investigate the previous government’s alleged human rights abuses appeared to reflect a change of heart.

“What he said was that he was not going to go after Gayoom,” speculated Shahindha Ismail, of the Police Integrity Commission and former head of the Maldivian Detainee Network.

“If we were to get technical, it could mean he was not going to file a case against him individually,” she said, suggesting Nasheed’s comment was not a reference to institutions with a mandate to investigate human rights abuses like HRCM.

“Now, I think [Nasheed] is plainly not happy with HCRM and the way they’ve been working.”

Shahindha said while she is not sure “we should go back to the time of the kings and dig up all these graves again”, she believes a TRC “would at least acknowledge what people have been through and at give others a chance to take responsbilitity for what they have done – a kind of self-remedy.”

In her experience working for the Police Integrity Commission, Shahindha observed that “many people report an incident in a fit of passion, but when it comes time to carry out the investigation they withdraw their complaints.”

“If I was going to explain [the concept of a TRC] I would describe it as ‘putting it all on the table so you can get on with your life,'” she said, suggesting that simply the process of being listened to might be curative.

But gaining political consensus for the idea would be a challenge, she thought, particuarly since “the DRP will jump to conclusions that this is about undermining their time in government.”

That much proved accurate: when Minivan News raised the idea with Secretary General of the DRP Dr Mohamed Mausoom, he said he suspected the President would use the opportunity to continue “passing all the blame for failure to the former government.”

“There are better things the government should be doing. People elected the them to govern the country, and in a democracy [the MDP] should listen to the people and deliver. Give HRCM enough money to do their job,” he added.

However Shahindha speculated that a TRC “would also likely see senior MDP people appear on the table.”

“It doesn’t have to be a replica [of the South African TRC], but the general concept has been tried and proven. I do think it would be quite effective. However there is likely to be an initial negative reaction from the public. It was the same in South Africa, it took them a while to understand the concept.”

If former police commissioner Adam Zahir, “who is accused of more human rights violations than anyone else in the Maldives”, could sit in open cafes in Male, Shahindha said, “I’m very sure Gayoom could walk down the street without facing any problems. If people come out I don’t think there will be a lot of people running after them. Maldivians might not forgive and forget, but I do think they let go.”

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Comment: Maldives ‘ahead of the pack’ in highlighting climate change

The Government and people of the Maldives have been ahead of the pack when it comes to highlighting the impacts of climate change. Initiatives such as holding Cabinet meetings underwater and having ambitious plans to become the world’s first carbon neutral country by 2020 make a serious point about the impacts of climate change on all vulnerable countries.

With 80% of the Maldives 1,200 islands no more than one metre above sea level a rise in global temperature and sea levels threatens the country’s very existence. Many of you will have already experienced the impacts of climate change; the more frequent and intense storm surges.

That is why the Maldives and the UK Governments have been working hard in the run up to the UN Conference on Climate Change. We both want to see the most ambitious deal possible at Copenhagen.

The UK believes global agreement around a deal limiting the global average temperature rise to a maximum 2 degrees (the Maldives, with other island states, are pressing for a 1.5 – one of the main areas to be resolved at Copenhagen); commits the world to a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and provides a financial package that will help the most vulnerable nations represents, the best way to protect countries particularly exposed to climate effects, such as the Maldives.

That is why the UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has proposed a “Copenhagen Launch Fund” to help developing countries tackle climate change immediately. That is $10 billion to be spent on helping developing countries adapt to climate change and reducing greenhouse gases with “payment for results, with priority for the poorest and most vulnerable countries”.

Global discussion and co-operation is crucial to the success of Copenhagen and beyond. The 18th of December does not mark an end to the process. Whatever the outcome of the conference is, the battle against climate change will not be won.

That is why the Maldives and the UK both have a role to play in ensuring that the momentum of Copenhagen is not lost once the last delegate has left the table. Only a continued and sustained global effort from us all will successfully avert the serious risk climate change poses to our future.

Ivan Lewis is Minister of State at the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office

All comment pieces are the sole view of the author and do not reflect the editorial policy. If you would like to write an opinion piece, please send proposals to [email protected]

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Police arrest Laamu drug dealer

Police have arrested a man in Laamu atoll Mathimaradhu in relation to drug trafficking.

Police claimed that Hassan ‘Achan’ Yoosuf was a major player in the drug trade for Laamu Atoll, and believed to control more than 50% of the drug trade in the atoll.

Sub-Inspector Ahmed Azhan of the Drug Investigation Department said police have been keeping tabs on Yoosuf for “quite some time now.”

Police said when Yoosuf was apprehended he tried to dispose of some packets that were in his possession, which were later confirmed to be 50 grams of narcotics.

Azhan said that Yoosuf’s arrest was a huge step forward in the fight against drugs.

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Bill proposed to require parliamentary approval for foreign loans

A bill to amend the financial regulations to require parliamentary approval before the government obtains foreign loans was debated at parliament yesterday.

Presenting the legislation, Maafanu West MP Abdullah Abdul Raheem of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), said he was proposing the amendments to “modernise” the financial regulations.

“My purposes [for proposing the bill] include securing economic independence for Maldivians,” he said.

He added amendments were needed for the financial regulations passed in 2006 as it gave powers to the government that contravened the spirit of the constitution.

The regulations needed to be changed in accordance with article 250 of the constitution, he said, which states “Any transfer, sale, lease, release, mortgage (to any person) or destruction of, any property or assets owned by the state, and any such other agreement, shall only be entered into in accordance with law.”

Abdullah said it was an “injustice” to obtain loans under a regulation first made in 1976, adding it was not his intention to restrict powers of the president.

The mid-term budget for 2010 currently being reviewed by a parliamentary committee includes Rf384 million (US$29 million) in foreign loan assistance proposed to plug a Rf4.6 billion (US$357 million) deficit.

The bill proposes amending the regulations to require the president to submit plans to secure loans either for the government or state-owned enterprises for parliamentary approval.

Moreover, the sale or lease of government property and providing subsidies or assistance must be conducted in accordance with a law to be passed by parliament.

During the ensuing debate, MPs disagreed with the extent of parliamentary oversight and powers over the government, with some arguing such laws encroached on the authority of the executive.

Feydhoo MP Alhan Fahmy said there was a contradiction between the proposed amendments and what the MP said was its purpose.

The constitution gave the president powers to formulate and implement monetary and fiscal policies.

“We have to set aside having the People’s Majlis decide everything in our thinking,” he said, adding MPs should not interfere with setting policy and implementation as it was contrary to the presidential system of governance.

Alhan said the president did not have to secure parliamentary approval to obtain loans to plug the budget deficit and MPs were not financial experts.

Moreover, he said, the article in the constitution did not deal with loans and foreign assistance.

Maamigili MP Gasim Ibrahim, sole representative of the Republican Party and former finance minister, said the amendment was urgently needed for the future of the nation.

Article 97 of the constitution clearly states that the executive shall not obtain or receive any money or property by loan or otherwise except pursuant to a law enacted by the People’s Majlis, Gasim said.

Referring to the sale of the majority stake in the state telecommunication company, Dhiraagu, Gasim criticised the government’s policy of privatising state-owned enterprises without consultation with the people’s representatives.

He urged MPs to approve the amendments to ensure that future generations do not inherit a “hollow shell” of an indebted nation.

Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Aslam of the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party said the amendments would impede the functioning of the government.

Submitting loans required by government companies to parliament every time funds were needed would create difficulties and slow down the proceedings of parliament, he said.

Vili-Maafanu MP Ahmed Nihan of the DRP said the amendments were required to ensure that the government does not exploit loopholes in the regulations in obtaining loans that would indebt the people.

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Police sieze 65 bottles of vodka in raid

An Indian worker residing in Male’ has been arrested in possession of alcohol.

According to Sub-Inspector Ahmed Azhan of the Drug Investigation Department, a raid was conducted on a suspected alcohol brewing and distribution operation. The Indian man, only known as Shibu, was found with 65 bottles of alcohol that police have identified as vodka.

Police are now working to identify the man as he had no passport or other means of identification on him, and believe him to be in the country illegally.

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Drugs found in air freighted vegetables

Customs authorities have seized narcotics packed into vegetable cases on a cargo flight from India on 6 December.

Two cases of vegetables had the drugs attached to the sides. One of the cases contained 1.04 kg of cannabis and the other contained 0.7 kg of heroine.

Police said they have arrested a man in connection with the crime, Ali Ashlah Rashaadh, who has previous drug convictions.

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Tourists finding Maldives too pricy

A recent survey conducted by various travel magazines has found 80% of respondents feel that prices in the Maldives are too high.

According to Miadhu, 140 tourists were questioned over seven days as part of the survey. Many claimed they they would rather experience the true beauty of the Maldives and experience local cuisine rather than pay top dollar for imported food and sit in a room with expensive decorations.

While the development of mid-range tourist resorts  has been considered, the influence of the upscale tourism sector remains strong in the country.

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Australian poll finds people against religious cartoons

An opinion poll in Australia has shown that a large number of non-Muslims as well as Muslims are against religious caricatures, such as of the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), being published reports Miadhu.

The internet vote found 160,000 people were against the publication of such material, while 60,000 agreed that it could be published.

Caricatures of the Prohpet Mohamed (PBUH) met with considerable controversy recently when they were published in countries such as Australia and Denmark.

Some organisations such as Reporters Without Borders believe that these caricatures are part of freedom of speech, Miadhu reported. However human rights advocates argue against this, claiming that such depictions stir an already volatile pot and the direct targeting of religions and religous personalities should be ceased immediately.

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