Political unrest continues in the Maldives following the issuing of a warrant for the arrest of former President Mohamed Nasheed by the Criminal Court on Thursday morning.
The unrest was sparked three weeks ago after the military took Chief Judge of the Criminal Court, Abdulla Mohamed, into custody on the military training island of Girifushi – the same island used to hold Nasheed’s underwater cabinet meeting.
Nasheed’s government had accused the Chief Judge of political bias, among other allegations going back to 2005 under Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s administration. The judicial watchdog body – the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) – had concluded an investigation into allegations of political bias, however the judge sought an injunction from the Civil Court against his investigation. The JSC complied with the Civil Court order.
A warrant was also issued for the arrest of former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim.
Minivan News is currently attempting to confirm the charges against the pair with the Criminal Court.
Nasheed resigned in dramatic circumstances on Tuesday, handing power to Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan, after elements of the police sided with opposition protesters. The group had attacked the main military base in Male’, and then took over the state broadcaster, rebranding it ‘Television Maldives’ (TVM), its name under Gayoom’s government.
President Dr Waheed then held a press conference on Wednesday morning in which he pledged to create a “national unity government”, and praised the police defectors for their “great sacrifices in upholding the constitution”. He denied there had been a coup when challenged by reporters: “Do I look like someone who is attempting a coup?” Dr Waheed replied.
That afternoon former President Nasheed rallied Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters in Male’, announcing to his party and foreign media that he had been forced to resign under duress, declaring Dr Waheed’s government illegitimate and calling for elections.
Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) last night denied using force against Nasheed prior to his resignation.
Thousands of MDP supporters, including many women, took to the streets for what the party claimed was a “peaceful” protest walk around Male’. A brutal police crackdown, in which Nasheed was beaten and 50 people were hospitalised, including MDP Chairperson ‘Reeko’ Moosa, sparked a wave of violence and vandalism across the country’s islands directed at police buildings, courts and other public buildings. Dramatic footage of the protests and the injured was shared on social media networks.
Protests spread, police and courts damaged
At 11:00pm last night police released details of the damage caused to police property during public protests on the islands.
- Protestors on Gaaf Dhaalu Atoll Thinadhoo set fire to the police station, magistrate court, atoll council office, and all police vehicles. Nine policeman were attacked and subsequently treated at the Thinadhoo Regional Hospital. Police officials have declared the area unsafe for local policemen as “MDP supporters have threatened to attack the residences of policemen.”
- Similarly, on Faresmaathodaa island of the same atoll, protesters close down the police station and forced those officers on duty to return home.
- In Addu City, which is synonymous with Addu Atoll and which hosted the 2011 SAARC Summit, protesters torched police stations in Hithadhoo and Gan islands, as well as the Addu Police Training School and all police vehicles. The buildings have been destroyed beyond repair, and criminals held in those police stations have been released by protesters.
- In Raa Atoll Dhuveaafaru and Alifushi islands, MDP supporters marched into police stations, halted police operations and closed down the building with police officers inside.
- In Shaviyani Atoll Milandhoo island, protesters forced themselves into the police station where they set two police motorbikes and a vehicle on fire. Following threats, all island police officers have been transferred to Funadhoo island in the same atoll.
- On Gnaviyani Atoll Fuvahmulah island, protestors threw stones at police after they were prevented from closing down the station. Some police officers have been injured, and station windows have been smashed.
- In Haa Alifu Atoll Dhidhoo island MDP supporters walked into the local police stations, halted operations and closed down the building, forcing the policemen off the island. Criminals held in the station were released.
Several governments have issued travel advisories urging tourists to avoid travel to the capital city of Male. Resorts and the airport island remain calm.
Controversial appointments
Meanwhile, President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan has made appointed several members of former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s government to key posts.
Last night Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed of minority opposition Dhivehi Quamee Party (DQP) was appointed Minister of Home Affairs.
Dr Jameel previously served as Minister of Justice under former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and briefly as Minister of Civil Aviation and Communication former President Mohamed Nasheed. Dr Jameel was also involved in a controversial pamphlet published by his party, the DQP, accusing the Nasheed government of conspiring with Jewish and Christian figures to “spread vice” among the Maldivan public.
The President also appointed Mohamed Nazim as Minister of Defence and National Security. Nazim previously served in the National Security Service under Gayoom, and in the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) under Nasheed.
Ilyas Hussein Ibrahim has been appointed as Immigration Controller, a position he held under Gayoom. He served as Director of the Center for Disaster Management under Nasheed.
Today, the President appointed Masood Imad as President’s Office Media Secretary. Imad previously worked as Gayoom’s presidential campaign manager in 2008, and has served as director of Maldives Airports Company Ltd. (MACL).
Foreign media informed Minivan News that Gayoom’s spokesman Mohamed ‘Mundhu’ Shareef was serving as acting spokesman for Dr Waheed’s government.
LIVE FEED – Refresh for updates
12:15pm – MDP Chairperson and MP ‘Reeko’ Moosa Manik is being examined by doctors. He remains in a serious condition, a party spokesperson has said.
12:30pm – The Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for former President Mohammed Nasheed, as well as former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim. Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed was released from military detention after Nasheed resigned at 1:00pm on Tuesday, February 7, and following the swearing-in of then Vice President Dr Mohamed Waheed Hassan.
12:35pm – Security forces were reported as on their way to Nasheed’s home at Keneryge to arrest him.
1:49pm – Nasheed is reportedly giving a press conference inside his home of Keneryge, to both local and foreign media. He has reportedly claimed that the current government is illegitimate.
2:10pm – Nasheed’s wife Laila and his two daughters are currently in Sri Lanka, Solih has said. At Nasheed’s Male home Keneryge, the party says it is still unaware of the charges against Nasheed.
2:11pm – Minivan News has been informed by the UN in Male’ that UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, will arrive in Male’ this evening.
2:26pm – President Nasheed addressed reporters in Keneryge, his family home in Male’:
“200 or so police and 80 military officers helped the opposition change the government. Police and military were very brutal; they beat me very badly. We all fear for our safety.
“The Maldives is in a very serious situation. The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) said the judge [Abdulla Mohamed] is not fit to sit on the bench. All we wanted to do by arresting the judge was to implement the JSC’s ruling that he was not fit to sit on the bench.
“I never fought and I don’t want a war. When police come with a warrant we will go with them.
“I cannot believe that the Vice President hasn’t participated in the whole thing. Military officers very clearly told me that if I did not resign in an hour they would use arms.
“We went to [Republic Square?] at 5:00am [on Tuesday]. Police officers sitting there defied my orders. MNDF (military) officer told me that they wanted to have me gone. MNDF officers on my side then begged me to open the weapons vault. I refused.
“I went to the President’s office and wrote the resignation letter as I was instructed by the MNDF. I tried to hand the letter to my secretary but the MNDF grabbed the letter and took it to parliament.
“My advice to MDP and to citizens is not to do anything unwise. And keep all actions within the laws. I regret that I have heard nothing from the Prosecutor General about all this.”
“I have a team of lawyers and I think they will consider filing a case in the Supreme Court.”
2:55pm – Nasheed has gone upstairs into the building with former Special Envoy Ibrahim Zaki.
3:02pm – Laamu Atoll Gan island was without Dhiraagu internet services as of 8:00 this morning, following a public demonstration last night. Sources report that several have been arrested in the atoll.
Dhiraagu has said the outage, which had affected islands in Laamu Atoll, Gaaf Dhaal Atoll, Gaaf Alif Atoll, Thaa Atoll and Naviyani Atoll, was due to a likely lightning strike on the northern side of Meemu Atoll on Kolhufushi Island. Company Manager of Marketing Communications and Public Relations Mohamed Mirshan Hassan said the outage was not related to the social unrest.
As of 11:00am today, services had been restored to islands including Fares in Gaaf Dhaal, Herethere, South Feydhoo, Kolamaafushi and parts of South Hithadhoo, Hassan said.
3:07pm – A petition calling for the security of Mohamed Nasheed, his staff and the Maldivian people organised by environmental NGO 350.org has received 30,000 signatures.
“President Nasheed has been one of the strongest, most outspoken leaders on climate change willing to both state the truth and lead with action commensurate with his words. We need more leaders like him around the world, and for now we are doing what we can to assist in ensuring his safety and the restoration of peace and democracy in the Maldives,” writes founding member William Bates. He adds that the organisation hopes to convey their message to US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake before his upcoming visit to the Maldives, as well as other diplomatic envoys.
3:15pm – Major General Ahmed Shiyam has been appointed as Chief of Defence Force, after Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel respectfully retired from the position today.
4:10pm – Local newspaper Haveeru has reported newly appointed Police Commissioner Abdulla Riyaz as saying that he does not consider the court order to detain former President Nasheed and former Defence Minister Tholhath Ibrahim as an arrest warrant, and that he will only implement the order after looking into the legal bounds for making such an arrest. “However I never said I will not make the arrest,” he told Haveeru.
Riyaz would not give a comment on his intentions to follow or dismiss the court order.
4:30pm – There are several hundred MDP supporters outside Mohamed Nasheed’s house. Police were earlier seen in the area, but left. The atmosphere is one of a stalemate. Storms and bad weather have kept many people indoors today.
7:00pm – Addu City Mayor Abdulla Sodig has confirmed reports that members of various opposition parties are leading the police to MDP members and supporters in Addu and beating them before the police arrest them. Approximately 100 individuals including minors have been beaten and arrested, and arrest warrants are said to have been issued for members of the city council.
Sodig sustained injuries during a targeted attack at the City Council yesterday, including a wrist fracture and head injuries; he said he is unsure if there has been damage to his brain as he is still in need of a CAT scan. He is currently “hiding in a safe place”. His family is also hiding in different places, he said.
8:11pm – UK Conservative Party MP and Chairman of the party’s Human Rights Commission expressed “deep concern” for the “severe setback for democracy and human rights in the past three days.”
“We understand that President Nasheed was forced to resign at gunpoint, was subsequently detained, and that when he addressed supporters of his party, the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), he was beaten and gassed by police, along with other MDP members.
“Today, we have learned that a warrant has been issued for his arrest. We condemn these actions in the strongest possible terms, and urge the Maldivian Government to return to the path of democracy and human rights, to guarantee the safety, security and freedom of Mohamed Nasheed and his supporters. We also urge the Government to ensure that the MDP and other political parties and activists can engage in the political process free from fear and repression, and to hold new free and fair elections as soon as possible, which Mohamed Nasheed and his party can contest.
“We encourage the British Government, the European Union, the Commonwealth and the international community to do everything possible to support the protection and promotion of democracy and human rights in the Maldives, and to seek guarantees for the freedom and security of Mohamed Nasheed.”
8:18pm – UK Foreign Secretary William Hague has “registered our concern about developments in particular the reports of attacks on members and supporters of the Maldivian Democratic Party.”
“It is for the new leadership to establish its legitimacy with its own people and with the international community with an independent review of the circumstances leading to what has happened earlier this week, and we hope that the new leadership will demonstrate its respect for the rule of law, including peaceful demonstrations. I welcome the call for calm and order from the former President Nasheed to all his supporters,” Hague said.
9:30pm – MDP members and supporters have gathered at Dharubaruge for a meeting.
10:55pm – British MPs John Glen (Salisbury) and Karen Lumley (Redditch) have called for an end to the “coup d’etat” in the Maldives, saying “the international community needs to condemn the violence and recognise the truth behind what has happened.”
“It now seems very likely that the new ‘President’ – Nasheed’s former deputy Mohamed Waheed – was working quietly behind the scenes with the military and police to orchestrate an apparent legitimate handover of power for the world’s media, when the truth is that it is a coup d’etat by those who were beginning to have their interests threatened,” they jointly wrote on a political blog today.
11:01pm – A man has been brutally beaten in Addu Gan by police forces, who have reportedly been beating and arresting MDP supporters since this morning. An islander said the man’s son, a police officer, was in the police-occupied van at the time. “He was beaten over and over, he couldn’t stand up or sit down. He is a supporter of Nasheed,” said the islander, who requested anonymity.
11:05pm – Independent daily global news hour Democracy Now! has today aired a conversation with US-based environmental NGO 350.org founder Bill McKibben, “The Island President” director Jon Shenk, and former advisor to Nasheed Paul Roberts.
Calling Nasheed the ‘Mandela of the Indian Ocean,’ McKibben said Nasheed, “was a thorn in the side [of the U.S.] because he kept bringing up the topic of climate change, a topic they’re not that keen on. On the other hand, he — almost to a fault — was cooperative with U.S. efforts about climate change. The State Department owes him and I hope that they take this seriously.”
11:10pm – MDP meeting at Dharubaruge has concluded and people have left the area.
11:21pm – “MDP is a boat fit for every ocean. The boat won’t sink. The party will not fade away,” said Nasheed during tonight’s rally, which filled Dharubaruge as well as the road outside of the convention building. “I don’t believe that my strength has been weakened. We get strength from one another,” he told the crowd.
11:27pm – “We want to serve the people with kindness, and also a clean living. MDP has not come to power to enjoy the luxury and respect of a ruler. MDP has come to power to serve the Maldivians,” said Nasheed.
11:30pm – Citing MDP’s five key pledges (affordable living costs, housing and quality health care, nationwide transport, and prevention of narcotics and drug trafficking) Nasheed said, “Maldivians would not believe that their countrymen were tortured or assaulted and left in pain. The Maldivian Democratic Party came with their activities after [the former regime] killed Evan Naseem, and the party’s main purpose is to bring proper justice to the Maldivians.”
11:40pm – “It wasn’t 24 hours since our government was toppled before [the new government] had put 500 people in prison without justice. There are almost 30 people now in the hospital for intensive care. Many Maldivian citizens have been disturbed and many are suffering pain and great loss,” said Nasheed. “I am out here again to bring back kind leadership to the Maldivians. I am not going home unless we achieve that for the Maldivians.”
11:45pm – “My main purpose is to bring democracy,” Nasheed told those gathered, reiterating that the party’s main target is a proper justice system.
11:46pm – He said the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has evidence against Criminal Court Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed, who was released from military detention following Nasheed’s resignation on Tuesday. Nasheed called on the body to take action against the judge.
11:48pm – “Abdulla Mohamed is a person against whom the JSC has filed several cases regarding his disciplinary actions. He is not capable as a chief judge. If he is the chief judge, then the whole Maldives’ justice system would be ruined, I have observed.”
11:50 – Nasheed maintained his request that the JSC take action against Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed and reform the courts to align with the Maldives’ constitution, adding that the methods used to appoint the judges to the lower courts were against the constitution. “I have requested to re-order the court’s again according to the constitution,” he said.
11:52pm – Judges in the Maldivian court system must be educated to modern standards, Nasheed explained. He added that the constitution was drafted to ensure “a proper, lawful leadership.”
11:54pm – “Without proper justice, it is not possible to have a lawful government. And as we have seen in the last few days, that is not an easy thing to achieve.”
11:56pm – “As a president of Maldives, I do not regret any step I have taken. Whatever step I have taken, I have taken to benefit Maldivians and according to the constitution,” Nasheed continued.”I repeat: I will take those steps necessary to reform the Maldives’ justice system.”
12:02am – Stating that the Maldives’ justice system was for 30 years designed for people to hide their behavior, Nasheed described the Maldives courts as an arena maintained by businessmen to serve their own needs. “For the past 3 years, we [MDP] have been ashamed that the Maldives businessmen have taken advantage of the courts for their own purposes. ‘My resort, my island, my building, my land, my factory’-they’ve been using the courts to follow their own needs.”
12:05am –“The 30 year-old regime has been changed. The pain they gave to the people, we have stood and protested against it. The pain the Maldivians have seen during those days by the police and the army- those forces are not independent. Many Maldivians are angry because of the way police mistreat people.
“The police station has been co-opted by the businessmen to bring a coup to fulfill their needs. If that happens, we cannot bring the changes and development we want,” Nasheed said, stating that the police had to be friendly with the Maldivians to enact positive change. He further stated that the police had to be loved by the people as well.
“The Police is not a department of which people have to be afraid,” he said.
12:20am – Nasheed has said those who orchestrated the coup must be investigated and punished, however MDP does not seek control per se. “From what I know, the coup that has taken place in the Maldives has to be properly investigated. And the people who have been ruling the government unlawfully will know it. The international community will only accept the government after the government investigates the coup,” he said, adding that it was important for Dr Waheed to step down from his post. “I repeat, we are not looking to be the rulers of the country. What we need is the development of Maldives.”
12:25am – Observing that the constitution only offers two means of changing the presidency (short of death)- by completion of the term or parliamentary vote- Nasheed insisted that a vice president could not take office by any other means.
12:38am – President Dr Waheed’s press secretary Ibrahim Hood has announced his resignation. He has worked for Dr Waheed since he first became Vice President in 2008.
12:46am – Saying he is not sad to have been ousted from the presidency, Nasheed said “when I go home tonight and sit on my swing, I will still be very happy. Being president of Maldives is not the only reason I ran for the presidency.”
He added that it is important for Dr Waheed to step down, but before that, “please free those who have been arrested.”
“Until those prisoners are free, we will not come to any discussion table,” he stated.
12:57am – Nasheed noted that if Dr Waheed steps down from the presidency, the Speaker of the Parliament must hold elections within two months, during which time the Parliamentary leader serve as national leader. “We request to have that election within two months,” he declared, adding that the party had been discussing holding mid-term elections before he resigned on Tuesday due to the difficulty of completing a five year term.
However, he continued that mid-term elections would disturb the political and social stability of the country. “But now, we are looking for an election.”
1:01am – During the two months prior to an election, Nasheed said the Parliament Speaker would be tasked with investigating the police actions of the last few days and reforming the courts. “These two months would be the most important days of the Maldivian history.”
Nasheed said the party would support and respect the Speaker’s leadership in the event that Dr Waheed stepped down from office.
2:00am – UN Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, met journalists at the airport earlier this evening after he arrived in the capital. His purpose, he said, was to meet everyone, “not to investigate”.
“The investigation or clarification of what took place is primarily the responsibility of the judiciary and the parliament,” he said.
“It should be clear that any solution to this crisis must be generated by national actors. There can be no externally generated solution to something that can be solved by Maldivians themselves.”
2:05am – Minivan News has been informed that arrest warrants have been issued by Meedhoo Court for the arrest of all Addu City Councilors. Two councilors are already in police custody, a source claimed. As in Male’, 100 percent of Addu City councillors were elected during the most recent local council elections on MDP tickets.
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And this Military government will say the arrest is constitutional as they had a court order. I am never as proud to have voted for Nasheed as I am today. I beg Dr. Waheed to resign and not be part of this horrible crime.
That brutal guy does not live in Keneryge i believe . I call Minivan news to become minivan and not to get biased and do responsible journalism.
That was an hour ago? what happened?
"Minivan News "Same old propaganda machine of Nasheed.
When rule of law fails Martial law is the obvious option....Nasheed is repsonsible for destroying Rule of Law in the Maldives by treatinbg the constitution as a piece of toilet paper..his own speeches r thr to prove dat!...a victim of his own actions, Nasheed thought HE is democracy and was acting like a prophet!lunacy and Hate wil alwez have such an end!
President Nasheed, We will always be behind you, our will fight for justice in our country.
All those who love Maldives please join hands with us Maldivians to bring this Military man Dr. Hassan, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his Brother Yamin Abdul Gayoom and Gasim Ibrahim for treason.
May Allah Bless our beloved President Mohamed Nasheed.
Thank you so much for what you have done to our country.
Step down Waheed, i never ever expected him to be part of such horrible happenings. Blood has been shed, and arrest warrants issued at a whim.
@mode mate you blind or what. You call Nasheed and his supporters brutal when they got beaten up by the police yesterday while they were protesting peacefully. Check out the photos and videos mate.
Proud of Anni.
Used to respect the blue uniform. Now I see only traitors.
Now all the criminals will issue arrest orders and but majority of Maldivians are well aware of and experiencing all these right in front of our eyes.
First arrest all those police who created all the mess and find out who was behind it.
It was not nasheed it is all Maldivians.
Nasheed never ask anyone to do it.The prob was no one want c police prensent due to the bruitality.
It was not related to Nasheed.But Nasheed and MDP is to blame by military and oppositions.
Bloody booshit judge, Abdullah Mohamed should resign from his post, and sprime court should order an election, if not this government gonna face very difficulties of consist militery government.
I wish Minivan all the best and courage to continue their reports about what's really going on in Maldivistan
I do not blame Waheed any more. I know for a fact that he had no choice now but to accept the Presidency at gun point.
He is not brave like Anni and he is just a puppet and his orders are being refused by Nazim and Jameel.
Waheed does not want to hurt the public and the Police beatings but he is powerless to stop it or resign.
President Nasheed started all this!! When he came to power in 2008 November, he had the oppportunity to recitify the dirty politics and clean this! BUT WHAT DID HE DO? He made Zaki as the Special Enjoy to president, Sarangu Adam Manik as another Enjoy, Gave all foriegn and local political posts to Mariya's family and Ameen Faisal family! He started a fresh chain of corruption. He started a fresh blood of Boozers and alcohol/beer/Vodka drinkers like Adil Saleem with innocent girls hired from islands! He then finally did what Gayoom did to him to judge Abdulla (judge is not innocent BUT Nasheed needs to be obey laws and give basic rights to Judge Abdulla)!! This began the end and the begining of a MAJOR POLITICAL CONFLICT (WHICH WILL BE BLOODY)!!!
Raees Nasheed (The Father of low level Maldivians), will be with you till death.
So.. When you announce on Internetnational and National media that you are acting outside the constitution... which is basically a confession.. what more do you need?
Still say that the arrest warrant was issued on a whim?
ma heee heee .. kekeke
Yet another story without goats in it - think everyone is missing the point!
Why can't many Maldivians take of the notes off their eyes and see what really happens! The debate about our country is clear as black and white! and anyone who does a crime should be brought to justice and how can yesterday's brutality of police be justified?
I promise to all useless police, I will fight for demcracy till I die.
President Nasheed has history of changing his statements and he is a well know pathological lier, every Maldivians know that
Dr Waheed how can you work with people who violated our rights and made this government unworkable? Your own son has written about the oppositions blatant and cynical sabotage of the government of which you were a part of.
President Nasheed has history of changing his statements and he is a well known pathological lier, every Maldivians know that
World History has any number of examples When Uniformed men taste power, money and publicity they kill democracy. Shame on all those uniformed men who joined hands to bring down a democratically elected government in an undemocratic way. Look at the way Anni treated Maumoon and how the present regime is treating Anni. If Anni was not broadminded each of these cronies would have been in jail and nobody would have had any sympathy for them then. Because he was kind, they stabbed him from behind.
Greets from Germany! Mr. Nasheed is your voted president. And as long there was no other vote there can not be even the smallest doubt about that. We follow this but I swear that international community will never accept what police is trying to do. milliongs of German, European and citizens of this earth are with Nasheed and not with violance.
Dear people who have received money from Gayoom,
Kindly please stop chasing after quick profit, and please open up your eyes and see the long term benefit not for yourselves but for your own country.
Look around you, and see what people from outside of your country are saying. None of them support Gayoom as they see him as a dictator and a human-rights abuser.
If you continue to support Gayoom, yes you will be able to prosper some of you, but the wealth won't be distributed to all of you. Would you like to continue the life like this forever?
If I were you, I would not support Gayoom as I consider the future of my children. I wouldn't be able to stand it if one day my children were thrown into a jail and were tourtured because they just spoke truth. Would you like to continue to make your country that has no voices?
People, especially people who think that minivan is a propaganda tool of Nasheed, kindly please stop beeing so narrow-minded and tunnel-visioned; rather, kindly please open up your eyes and think about consequences of your act in supporting Gayoom. You are just trying to make a country without any voices, like North Korea.
I love Maldives and Maldivians. I really hope your country will be a country that we can be proud of.
Dear Maldivians
We have gone back to 30 yrs again, where Maldives was once a dungeon torture chamber, democratically elected president Mr.Nasheed has now shown us what the future will look like, please stand up all Maldivians to free this country from torture and barbaric mentality of the Police and Military, if we don’t stop now this will bring up a dangerous blend to the society where everyone can buy power and money will rule this country, not the wish of the people. For sure History will repeat and now Police and Military is acting like the drug cartels in Mexico. The POWER is out of people’s hands now, its just a game of the rich belonging to Mohamed Waheed Hassan Maniku,Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, his brother Yamin Abdul Gayoom, Gasim Ibrahim and few others who owns 70% wealth of this country. So please clear your Minds from the 30yrs of BRAINWASHING and breathe into development and transparency
hey hey dont u guys know that this guy Anni would not stop at nothing to achieve what he want.such a hypocrite and a nasty man,always saying one thing and doing the opposite.its obvious he did not voluntarily resign,the circumstances surrounding his governments shocking collapse is debatable...but for the sake of this nation as an ex president like he said in a live televised statement (he did not wish to remain in power by using excessive force)he should not have lead yesterdays angry mob( who are clearly in a bad state),and confronting the police in such a heated situation if he has any compassion for this nation. the result was unimaginable chaos and wide spread anarchy.the acts of the police at this stage could be justifiable as these so called peaceful protests granted by the constitution has its limits..the police too has their obligations.just bcos he has majority support does not mean he should be getting what he wants when he wants.this is where rule of law comes..he brought this downfall by himself largely by following the advice and his actions to save business interests of few extreme elements within MDP by blatantly ignoring the constition and most of all giving a deaf ear to the Supreme Court rulings in the case of Abdulla Ghaazi
All Women, Men, Girls, Boys, Young and Old Lets Get ready to join our President Nasheed and fill the Jails of Maldives are we scared of four walls??? NO, NO we are not. Yeah Yeah.
We can earn freedom within the walls of the torture chambers created by Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Mr. Mohamed Judas Waheed Mark Hassan Anthony Maniku hey filli, you certain have "come" this time, haven't you? lets see if you can "go" this time round.
I have seen idiots in my life never a idiot with P.hd.
When you fire a gun there is the thing called kick back it really does hurt once shoulder, oh no, sorry you have the Law and the constitution on your shoulder right? so when are you going to use the CHIEF JUDGE OF THE CRIMINAL COURT Abdulla Gazee to sue your ass for treasons you damn lunatic.
Freedom lovers sorry for the bad language, couldn't find a better word to address this Judas.
Lets Join President Nasheed on the march to Justice, lets fill up the Jails. hoora hoora its a holi holiday.
Hassana,Gayooma, yamina, Gasima get ready for treason trial.
Its a holi holi day. what a world of fun for every one who love free dom, hooray hooray.
By what human logic does Nasheed think that he can be more powerful out of power. Simply defies logic.
How can he bring reform to a system as an activist whence he could not do it as a president.
How can he denounce the judiciary yesterday and seek protection of the courts today.
How can he think he can come to presidency by resigning
How can he instigate violence in the name of peaceful protest.
How can he say he wishes to resign yesterday and today say that he was ousted.
Either Nasheed operates at a level where human logic does not fathom or ....?
cumoon ppl..see for yourself who is bad and good..it is obvious president nasheed is a hero..he is a leader who is trying to bring peace and stability for the country..
Dont you see brutal police..
now its a dictatorship..we want brutal police to be brought to justice..they are trying fade out democracy..
Have you seen in his 3yrs of presidency such a chaos..
Is it only the opposition people who have rights to demonstrate? is this freedom..wakeup..and consider...
Waheed has no control. His speeches and his actions don't match. He says there won't be any unconstitutional orders or actions against anyone and yet that's all we are seeing since he took oath. Can't blame the poor thing though. He is afterall a mere puppet of Gasim and his allies. Too bad he doesn't realize it or that he doesn't have the guts to stand up for the people of this Country.
MDP supporters, listen to your President Nasheed and don't go around burning public property. The Opposition will try as much as possible to force you to resort to unlawful actions, but prove to them that you are better than the Police loonies.
We understand that you will be frustrated and angry for being overthrown by a coup, but lets try to hold back any actions of violence. There is a large majority of Maldivians behind you, and we believe in you and want to see you overcome this challenging times strategically.
Dear all. Dr Waheed is not an elected president. He is a VP and untill elections are held he cannot be consider President and cannot form a goverment. Acording to the law, a VP can rule under a emergency situation but never call himself a President. Presidents are only the elected ones wich is not the case. From a legal pint of view Dr Waheed cannot call him
President and the so called new Goverment cannot be recognised as such untill you run elections. This is a legal matter. Dr waheed has taken over by force but not from a legal point of view. It is time for Maldives to real show if you respect or not the international law. Call for elections and fight for democracy.
Mr. Nasheed, during his tenure as a president of the Maldives, did everything to consolidate democratic set up. Remember, he had so many factors to look into. It was Gayyom's rule for 30 long years left the country into shambles. People of Maldives were not educated Politically and they knew only to throw stones and use box cutter knives. Given the situation, Nasheed tried hard since November 2008 to educate the people about democracy, rights and duties, etc. But the Civil Servants and the Judiciary who were benefited by the Gayooom's regime did not like the new changes and created much trouble to Nasheed. The opposition as well as MDP MPs too politically immature to do any good business in the Parliament. International community failed to educate the elected representatives and the people in general how to participate in a democratic set up and how to obey the constitution. Nasheed should have been allowed to complete his term in the office and the Civil Servants should have joined him in his effort of Nation Building. It is the religious extremists element in the Maldives did not like his policies. Hence the downfall.
If Dr Waheed does't respect the law, any international court can judge him for crimes against humanity. The same for Gayoom. It requires only a judge to start the procedure, even. Sri lankan judge can do so.
I think you are right Peter. Any Judge can start the action outside the Maldives. For Gayoom for sure and so for Dr Waheed for the blood already sread and his way of acting.
Nasheed and Gayoom are history.
Accept it.
Never look back.
Only look forward to your own bright future and it does not have to be with Gayoom or Nasheed.
Do you know why fighter jets do not have rear view mirrors. Because there is no need to look back.
May be Nasheed and Gayoom should go for a coffee have a laugh, smoke a camel light.
Nepotism is back. Dr Waheed's brother in law Iliyas Hussain already appointed to a senior post even before the announcement of cabinet.
Nasheed just rcvd 25% votes in the first round of the presidential eections.A.gayoom got 43%..Other opposition parties joined Nasheed under written agreements and promises by nasheed to hold a mid-term election and share cabinet posts and other powers with the coalition if he won the 2nd round and they campaigned vigorously pleading all thier supporters to vote for change to oust A.Gayoom..Nasheed won the 2nd round with some 54%..without the coalition he would have suuffered a sad defeat and all of tehm are against him today..so how does he hv a majority? Simple fact is he neva had a majority since months afte the election Gasim and Dr.Hasan broke the coalition...all he had when he was most popular was 25% of the country so imagine what will happen now after all the mess he has made as presidnt?? and all opposition including A.gayoom r on one side...worst of all the common neutral has understood now that the dreams nasheed show r infact n8mares...tuff luck
Nasheed says he doesn't want rouble, war in this country. He and his MDP thugs have done more damage in just one of protests to this country than the opposition has done in three years. Look at how many people have been injured because of him. Not to mention the private properties, police offices and vehicles destroyed and burnt yesterday. Anni always works this way, with vandalism, violence and terrorist. He and his thug mates should all be made to pay for the mess they have done. This is not protesting, its clear terrorism.
Like a million songs have been written, "don't know what you got till it's gone". Maldives will be regretting the decision to support this overthrow of the democratically elected president. Democracy in the Maldives has completely failed, the only way out of this mess it to immediately hold elections. The winner of which will then have the support of the police, military and the people.
As it is right now people are cancelling there trips to the Maldives and rebooking to other destinations. Sad day indeed !
arresting... banishing ... intimidating ... Deja vu ?????
Welcome back Gayoom !!!!
This people deserves you !!!!
Peter is right in that as soon as Waheed leaves office, he is finished if he travels outside of Maldives to any other democratic country. Waheed of all people should know this.
Gayoom is only safe because no one has filed a case against him. People like Nazim better be very very careful now. Do not leave Maldives or you would be prosecuted for crimes against the Public of Maldives for the beatings of the Police.
I saw some comments of people writing to trip advisor warning against coming to the Maldives ?? You should be commenting that the resorts are unaffected and safe !! This sort of over exaggeration will not help the situation here.
i agree with anthony ... have an election .. then let democracy be re- estabilised...
If you appoint governments on military demands which idiot calls it democracy?
Rinzy, Waheed has to appoint Ilyas to that post because that is the only way they can guarantee the 220 millions dollars they got from the Nexbis contract.
Maybe part of the that money was used to bribe the Police in this Military Coup.
I would like to see the police and army persons who revolted brought to justice. The country's penal Code states clear punishments applicable to traitors who attempt to overthrow lawfully elected government.
It is very disappointing that the Police Integrity Commission has failed to take action against the traitors.
Next...if the Prosecutor General fails to act, what sort of trust should we have in our system?
Please note that Riyaz, the new police commisioner has wowed to make the Maldives police," a strong force that the public would be afraid of". here we go back to pre evan naseem days when we did not have a civilian force... are we moving back to Gayoom era?
I support Anni for not using weapons against the coupe leaders and the military. Violence always ends in violence
If anni is to come back to power, i hope he can get rid of his extra baggage such as reeko, sarangu, zaki, ibra and people.
Anni would make a good prez, if he can be rid of these people..
some advise. please learn to respect all maldivians whether they are from atolls or male'. All cant be from kenery, maizan, hikifinifenmaa, athireege...or 4 kashimathi or 16 kashimathi
In support of President Mohamed Nasheed....