Ismailbe’ On Arrest And Detention

He speaks of himself in the third person, breaks into a smile and jumps to attention for no apparent reason and is an ever present at opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) meetings.

He says he is 88 years old. Before he said he was 84. Reports had him down as 73, and his identity card records him as 65. Whatever age he is, he is a local celebrity amongst those who know him.

MDP officials describe him as a pest, a character, a hero, an inspiration. They made a special exception for him to attend last year’s national congress.

But Ismail Mohamed (Ismailbe’) was arrested on April 29 for distributing leaflets and has just completed a week under house arrest. He was detained for distributing copies of a statement of the family of the late Hussein Salah, which police said “are banned and will create disharmony.” He was released last Saturday.

Ismailbe’ has lived under seven different heads of state in the Maldives, he says. But none, according to him, have been as bad as President Gayoom.

Work To Eat

Because he is hard of hearing, our interpreter shouts questions in Ismailbe’s ear. He bellows back answers, banging on the desk and gesturing as he communicates his disdain for the present government.

“I told them I was doing this work so I can eat but they didn’t believe me,” Ismailbe’ says of his arrest. “There is no single office in the government where I haven’t submitted to find a job, even at my age. I have been refused all jobs in the government and I have no way of earning money.”

“Now I am paid a little for distributing MDP leaflets. I rely on the money I earn from the MDP for distributing leaflets and money from well wishers to live and eat.”

No Respect

“I had been distributing the press release on Hussein Salah’s family for three days, when the police came to get me. I was standing near the STO building, and I had just three more to distribute when they came,” Ismailbe says.

Ismailbe’ was taken to Atoluvehi detention centre on Malé for interrogation by the police. “I told them I had never been jailed or taken into custody. But the police showed me no respect. They didn’t care about my age.”

“They kept asking me why I was handing out leaflets, but they didn’t believe me when I said I was doing it for basic income. So I refused to answer their questions.”

“I was not given any food from 10am till 6pm. I was shivering because the air conditioning was on so high. I asked several times for food and to turn the air conditioning down but they ignored me.”

In the evening, Ismailbe’ was taken from Atoluvehi to his house, where he was to remain under house arrest. “The police threatened my wife telling them if Ismailbe’ gets out of the house, we will take you in as well,” he says.

He was summoned back to Atoluvehi once more days after his arrest. “They took me in to take my fingerprints,” he says. “They have a procedure where I had to place each finger to leave a print. They told me to press down harder and I did as hard as I could. But they hit my hands and forced them lower. They had no respect.”

Weakness

“It is a sign of weakness that Gayoom has to arrest an eighty-eight year old,” Ismailbe’ says. “He will not last long.”

Ismailbe’ recalls, “When Maumoon first came to power everybody thought he was very good. Everybody had high hopes. Now everybody is mad because of that. Because he promised he would clean things up.”

Ismailbe’ blames Gayoom’s failure on greed. “The moment Gayoom started to change was the moment the Maldives started to get a lot of money. The government takes all this money and gives very little to the people. He [President Gayoom] gives huge sums to his cronies. The government is just hoarding funds and beating people up.”

And Ismailbe’ is scathing of the President’s attitude to Islam, “Gayoom doesn’t love religion. He always talks about it, but he does nothing according to it,” he says.

“Of the seven heads of state I have lived under, I have never seen anyone as torturous as Gayoom,” Ismailbe goes on, and he ends our discussion, warning, “Torturers do not change.”

Unity

Ismailbe’ rejects the notion that party politics and agitation over events like Hussein Salah’s death are dividing the country.

“I am being arrested because the party system is not being implemented, not because of the party system,” he says. “When party system comes to power, everyone should be happy”

Ismailbe’ is adamant that, “Everyone I meet on the street, even the women, support the work I do to create the party system.”

Ismailbe’ recalls a time before politics and modern life came to Malé. “There were grapefruit trees, mango trees and unpaved roads. A grapefruit cost 5 laari, and a tuna fish cost 10 laari… people were very happy despite hardship and took every opportunity to celebrate.”

But he says the country must look forward to democracy.

My Life For Freedom

“The police will probably arrest me again. But I won’t stop doing my work for the MDP. Its not just about me, I do it for the people. I would give my life for this cause,” Ismailbe’ wails.

Asked about what an MDP government can deliver to the people, he replies, “The MDP will put a smile on people’s faces.” When pushed, he says, “they will sort out the drugs problem and stop students being victimised.”

But he is most fluent when talking about the party’s Chairman and figurehead, Mohamed Nasheed (Anni). “Anni is Chairman and President of the party,” he says, despite the looming MDP Presidential election in which Anni is not standing. “He is like a son to me, and I would do anything for that man.”

And he is confident the MDP will not be allowed to repeat the mistakes of the current regime, “If they do not perform, the people will throw them out and have another election.”