Q&A: “Silent coup has become the armed coup” – Aishath Velezinee

Aishath Velezinee was formerly the President’s Member on the Judicial Services Commission (JSC), the watchdog body assigned to appoint and investigate complaints against judges. Two years ago she turned whistleblower and alleged the JSC was complicit in protecting judges appointed under the Gayoom’s government, and was colluding with parliament to ensure legal impunity for senior opposition supporters. In January 2011 she was stabbed twice in the back in broad daylight.

JJ Robinson: What do you think of the international community’s initial reaction to the events of February 7?

Aishath Velezinee: I think they fail to see the dynamics behind this country – it is all very personal and based on individuals.

[Maldivians] have a very deep understanding of this – the actors involved. The international community does not. So the international community is taking much at face value, and they are measuring what they see against the standards they hold.

These are not our standards – what I’ve seen in the Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is far below the standards of what you would expect from ordinary people in any democracy. An ordinary person would not act like the duty bearers here have done. It is absolutely unbelievable.

JJ: You have often spoken about a ‘silent coup’ – a collusion between the judiciary, the JSC and opposition-aligned members of parliament to preserve the pliability of the judiciary as it was under former Justice Ministry and President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. What do you mean when you said ‘the silent coup has become the armed coup’?

AV: The heart of the silent coup was the Criminal Court. The former regime wanted to maintain their influence on the criminal court.

You can see that a number of powerful and influential politicians and businessmen – and businessmen who are politicians – have cases pending against them. This gives reason as to why they would want to keep a hold on the criminal court.

Chief Judge of the Criminal Court Abdulla Mohamed was the man facilitating them to carry on with that, giving cover to the very serious corruption that has been continuing for a number of years in this country. This is highly entrenched corruption – state corruption.

When Abdulla Mohamed went missing – as they say – I believe the opposition feared they were losing control over the judiciary, and that is why they came out on the streets. If you look at the so called public protests, it was opposition leaders and gang members. We did not see the so-called public joining them – they were a public nuisance really.

For nearly three weeks they were going around destroying public property and creating disturbances. It wasn’t a people thing – we can say that. We locals – we know who was there on the streets. There is footage and evidence available of it. We’ve seen the destruction they were causing in Male’ every day.

To the international community it’s a crowd of people – and to them that’s the public. It’s a public protest to them. But it was not.

Then we need to consider who was involved in the free Abdulla Mohamed campaign. These are the same people I have previously accused of covering up and being conspirators in the silent coup. Amongst them was Independent MP Mohamed Nasheed – currently the chair of the parliamentary oversight committee on independent commissions – who has a duty to investigate the JSC.

On 6 February 2012, I finally got in writing from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) their response to my complaints about the JSC in May 2010.

They said that the matter of Article 285 and the JSC’s high treason was forwarded to Parliament for further investigation on 9 September, 2010.

Where is it? We haven’t heard anything of it. So why was MP Nasheed not doing his duty and investigating this? Why was he out on the street campaigning to free Abdulla Mohamed when this question is before him and he needs to look into it? Why was MP Abdul Raheem bragging on VTV – immediately after the national security committee meeting – that he had deliberately disrupted the meeting to prevent me from speaking? It’s a huge cover up.

JJ: Why do you think the international community is unaware of this?

AV: The international community is not fluent in the Dhivehi language. And all of the evidence I have – on tape – is in Dhivehi. I cannot get them to listen to that. All they hear is me talking, and as you know, nobody else has dared to come out publicly and take this up.

JJ: Where does this place you now? Considering you have all this evidence you must have some concern for your safety?

AV: All I have is with the police, the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), the ACC, and with parliament. So I don’t know. They could easily destroy it. It’s not being shared with the parliament. I have asked MPs in the independent commissions committee if they are aware of this letter from the ACC – they are not. Since 2010 we have been working with the judiciary whose legitimacy is actually in question.

The issue was not taken up by anybody. The issue of Article 285 and JSC’s high treason was taken up by myself, as a sitting member under oath, and I think that should be enough reason for them to investigate. But the only response I get from people is: “There were 10 people in there. Why just you?”

In a conspiracy where a majority of the people join together to commit a crime, why would they come out and speak about it? High treason was committed in the JSC with the confidence that there would be no investigation.

I believe the Speaker sitting there has been the cover for the JSC to cater to their old masters. They are very confident that the silent coup will remain uninvestigated.

JJ: On paper, the reappointment of the judges in 2010 occurred before parliament had passed the requisite legislation determining the educational, moral and ethical criteria for a judge? Does that not undermine the legitimacy of all verdicts issued after that period?

AV: Article 285 is not tied to any law. It is to prevent politicisation of the judiciary. The JSC is supposed to be working independently as an institution, and although it includes people from various parties – MPs and the Attorney General – each of us had a conduct of conduct under which we were supposed to be impartial. But that’s not how the JSC was functioning.

Everyone assumes because I was appointed by the President that I was colluding with the President. But if anyone bothered to look at the evidence – the recordings of the meetings – they would find the reality is different.

JJ: This evidence you have – are people just not bothering to look at it, or are they unable to do so because of the language barrier?

AV: Nobody has looked at the evidence. It has all been based on weight – nine to one. Woman to nine men. I feel very insulted.

JJ: Some of the visiting media expressed an interest in the situation with the judge and the lead up to the judicial crisis which precipitated these events. But how can you explain that in a two minute soundbite?

AV: You can’t. It is too complex. All of this is very complex and we can’t take anything at face value. We need to access available documentation, and we need people to access the other evidence available. But all the fact finding missions and investigation teams are based on just talking to people.

If you just talk to people, the story you get depends on who you talk to. The facts are the evidence.

People have asked me why I did not take it up with groups like HRCM. There is no place I have not taken it to – and I could not access the international community when I did not even have an office. I was under oath as a JSC member, but the commission put me out on the street to work. I was working like an activist – and alone.

JJ: On the bright side many people must be feeling they should have listened to you a long time ago?

AV: Yes. But it seems we missed the chance to fix it – to fix Article 285.

Now it’s politics that will solve this. In 1957 we had a constitution for seven months. Now we have had one for three years and failed again. We have to do what we failed to do and focus on strengthening judiciary. But when a serious national security issue being examined in parliamentary committee is disrupted and it ceases to continue with investigation, what does it say?

The Maldivian Democratic Party needs to focus on 285. They need to start talking constitution, about how they got into this. They need to back me – I submitted these cases and President Nasheed was still waiting for a response. You can’t run a state without a judiciary – and the judiciary is still under the control of the former regime

JJ: Even if early elections are called, that would not help the judicary?

AV: There is no judiciary as guaranteed to the people under this constitution.

JJ: What do you make of the new Attorney General, Azima Shukoor?

AV: I know her from primary school. We were in the same class until grade 10. I know her quite well – and I also know what she’s been doing in recent years.

I also know Gayoom’s government because I worked in that government for 19 years and six months. I know all of the individual players in this game, very, very well.

Gayoom had this practice of moving around people he found difficult, so I had the opportunity to work in a number of government departments and ministries, and to get to know quite a lot of powerful players in the opposition today. I know how they operate – their modus operandi. I know how they function.

My mistake was to trust. I trusted members of the JSC to uphold the constitution. I trusted the Speaker to uphold the constitution. And where I saw they were acting against the constitution I found it really hard to comprehend. It was happening every day. But I couldn’t believe it until the last moment.

JJ: Where to from here? What do you think happens now?

AV: Article 285 is going to be buried in history. I do not think we have the willingness or capacity in any of the state institutions to fully investigate exactly what happened in the JSC.

But what happened in the JSC must be haunting some of its members, if, months after I was stabbed, they are still discussing in a recorded sitting about how to silence me. On 17 Janurary 2011, two weeks after I was stabbed, MP Dr Afrashim Ali said I was “dangerous”, and the high court appointee was saying “We have to think about our future, our security. We have to silence her.” I have audios clips of that meeting on the 17th. I have the whole 1.5 hour recording – it’s there, you can hear it. A friend helped me do cuts and I have circulated it on Facebook. I put it on YouTube (Part one, two, three).

They fear an investigation because if there is an investigation, what I have said will be proven. All they are betting on is using their political weight to prevent an investigation.

JJ: You are making copies of the evidence?

AV: When Nasheed resigned I put everything away – I have nothing in my home any more. These are probably the only copies we have now.

Considering that the JSC actually tampered with and edited the audio recordings when they submitted them to parliament in 2010, they have shown they will destroy the evidence.

I have copies of audio tapes of proceedings in the JSC during Article 285 – and after. As well as from when their focus was on covering it up.

JJ: It is interesting that they continued to record the meetings, given all the other procedures not followed.

AV: They were not recording meetings when I initially joined the commission. They were working completely unconstitutionally.

The JSC refused technical assistance from the International Committee of Jurists (ICJ) and others. Instead they were themselves talking about strengthening the judiciary. What judiciary was there to strengthen when it was unconstitutionally appointed? It’s actually the people who have lost, not President Nasheed or the so-called President Waheed. The people have lost.

JJ: What do you make of Dr Waheed? Given his UN background and benign demeanour, he seems an unlikely leader of a coup d’état.

AV: He might have thought it was a power grab and that he was the man who was going to lead this. But he may be realising that he too is being played, is a tool of the opposition – of Gayoom’s family. I think he found out too late. He’s either an idiot or a tyrant. Right now it looks like both.

Let’s say President Nasheed did resign under duress. Is it the man who resigns, or is it the government who resigns? If it is the government, then Dr Waheed should be walking out with the President. Then it is the Speaker who takes over for the interim period.

This national unity government should be formed with the Speaker leading it. You can’t have a politician from a party that does not have a single seat in parliament or in a Council, heading a national unity government.

If he would step aside and permit the Speaker to form a national unity government, that would have more credibility. That would also bring this whole situation back into alignment with the constitution.

Right now we seem to be in a gap. We have a man who was put there by the police and military to lead a national unity government. We haven’t seen the public supporters – the so-called people behind him – anywhere. So what national unity government are we talking of here? Just because the cabinet seats a shared across a number of parties, is it a national unity government? No.

I think it is time the Speaker took charge and led a national unity government, and organised elections, and let the people speak again. Just because the international community is upset with Nasheed’s behaviour, doesn’t mean that they should legitimise a government that the people do not support.

We are talking about the government of the Maldives. And that government should be one that the people of the Maldives want and trust.

JJ: There is a lot of public baiting of police officers at the moment. How helpful is this?

AV: Waheed’s first public statement was to praise the police mutineers. How could he?

What happened on February 8 – that peaceful walk – that was absolutely uncalled for. And we haven’t seen anybody talking about it. Not Waheed, nobody. Why was that? What was the reason for such a violent and brutal attack by the police? Why were they picking on certain people? Why did they chase me saying they would kill me? Why?

JJ: The police chased you?

AV: The police, yes. Why did they spray me at close range?

JJ: They pepper sprayed you?

AV: My eyes – I could not open them – it took me 24 hours to clean myself of it. There was a police commander – I was walking in the middle of the crowd. When they chased us I ran with the people. There was this lane – I went in and I think President Nasheed was there. I pulled him by the shirt, then I ran in front and his men came and surrounded him. I passed the shop where he had gone in for cover. Then I came face to face with the police. There was a commander – he screamed out: “That’s the bitch, kill her!”.

Someone stepped in front of me and pepper sprayed me. I grabbed someone running away and said “I’m blinded, they’re going to kill me. Take me, take me.”

Somebody helped me across the street and took me to a safe place.

JJ: Are you concerned for your safety now?

AV: I’m very scared. You have seen their whole approach to my allegations. To deny it – not by arguing over the substance, but by slandering me, and ignoring it. They either slander or ignore.

I’m afraid that considering their approach, they are not going to make a big deal of taking me to court and trying me. They will find other ways of silencing me. It was scary.

This is not about Nasheed or Waheed. It is about the constitution. I really wish the international community would see beyond the obvious. What the opposition is afraid of is separation of powers, and the institutuion of a democracy. It is not Nasheed – Nasheed they can defeat in an election, if they have the people power. But they are afraid of a democratic system where they cannot carry on high level corruption, where they cannot control the judiciary or the independent commissions – and the media. That they fear.

A lot of the younger politicians who have played different roles in covering this up I don’t think are aware of the depth and dirtiness of this coup. It sounds like a conspiracy novel – but it is reality. And people are finding it hard to believe becasue of that.

JJ: To what extent is this about people power? What happens if police or the army are given an order they don’t want to comply with?

AV: I don’t think Waheed is controlling them. We’re seeing [Defence Minister Mohamed] Nazim – Nazim is from the National Security Service (NSS) of before [under Gayoom]. The police and the military were separated in 2005. Nazim is pre-2005. Nazim probably controls the police though [Police Commissioner] Abdulla Riyaz, while he controls the MNDF. Jameel’s role, as Home Minister, is the judiciary. He is the former justice minister. He knows individually all the sitting judges – he wrote the handouts they learned from.

JJ: Do you think people played politics too long with the judiciary – including the MDP side? People are asking why, if this was the issue, Nasheed did not act earlier?

AV: He would know. For one thing I think it was very difficult for him when his own Attorney General [Husnu Suood] was not taking up the matter. Suood was sitting in the JSC with me. But it was only me and Sheikh Shuaib Rahman – the member appointed from among the general public – who went to the ACC.

The Attorney General removed himself from the JSC at the time. I think he realised the politics of it, and took the safe road.

I put myself in danger, taking this up, knowing quite well the politics behind this. But I didn’t feel I had a choice. I was required as an office bearer under oath to work in the interest of the people and the constitution. And my interest in bringing it out to the public was to give them a chance to get their judiciary.

JJ: Will things get worse when the international media and the diplomatic community move on?

AV: Everyone is going about their daily business and to the outside world it looks normal. But the moment they leave, I believe we are in danger.

It is scary – the hatred. These men – the men in action on the 8th – it was their emotions that came out. This was something they carry inside. The hatred. What I fear is that it seems like the police, since their mutiny, can act with impunity. Individual police officers can take up their own greviances against individuals with impunity.

JJ: Do you think the military is in a similar situation?

AV: No, I think the military have largely managed to keep themselves outside the politics. But the leadership of today – which we see has not gone according to rank – is politicised, and part of the conspiracy.

JJ: Have you considered moving somewhere safer?

AV: I don’t see a real solution to this. I think I owe it to people to write this down. I should seriously sit down and write. But it is too heavy at the moment; being amongst events here and the people, fearing for my own safety, I cannot comfortably sit down. But I need to write the story of the silent coup – of how the constitution has been killed without changing a single letter. They have managed to commit high treason under the cover of the constitution.

Today we are in a far more dangerous situation than we were pre-constitution 2008. Then everyone knew it was autocracy, and that all the powers of the state were constitutionally given to one man. Today it is taken at face value that there are separation of powers.

I have policemen bragging on my Facebook page: “We brought down this government. Next time we see you in a rally we are going to kill you.”

Policemen on Facebook. They don’t seem to mind doing it publicly. Before they might have been more subtle – now there seems to be no order at all.

JJ: While the new government is seeking to establish its legitimacy – and the resorts are losing money – do you think there is risk of further crackdowns?

AV: There is no public support for government. And the international community wants to legitimise it. I would like to see Dr Waheed hold a rally, with his 12 parties. Let’s count numbers.

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49 thoughts on “Q&A: “Silent coup has become the armed coup” – Aishath Velezinee”

  1. Velezinee, your boy resigned and left us to fend for ourselves because he was too arrogant to change his command.
    Now you expect Dr Waheed also to be so foolish?

    After three long years, Maldivians can be sure now that they do not have a madman to rule them. That the country will not be sold to foreigners.

    Thank God we are freed from Anni's madness.

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  2. Velezeenee, days are over for people like you and your mates. Bark whatever you want, but we won't let you maniacs come back. Very soon your poodies like JJ too will have to leave this country.

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  3. Can someone please tell me why we should have fresh elections now?
    Why can't we wait till 2013 as specified by the constitution?
    Why hurry?

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  4. Rafiqul Alam or whoever you may be,
    This is not about Velezinee's boy. This is about a bunch of racist, bigoted, sexist, small-minded men trying to hold on to their arcane way of living as the world passes them by.

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  5. Ahh velezinee it's not only you who can write.We can and will write poems books novels epics too, only difference is we will have facts to back us while you will have myths!Wait for the reports to be out about every freaking day of Nasheed's rule that the Maldivians had to endure backed up by the nonsense of ur thugs in ur backyard in 'haruge', thanks to your mnbc all the footage is there recorded including the threats and warnings made by your president and his joker spokesperson to the public are all recorded too.You know why we havenn't been reaching out to the international community?? because even upto this day we hv treated people like Anni and you as sons and daughters of this country and we dont want to expose the evil in our people to the outsiders, we don't wash our dirty linen in public.But ppl like you for your own personal interests have been slandering and maligning your own people and fooling and BEGGING to the international community with outrageous lies and expressing false emotion and fear when you daringly threaten the locals on the raods everyday saying you guys have crossed every barrier of 'fear'.enough!.Soon the international community too will desert you because you and your group clearly lack the knowlege or expertise to match the Herculean tasks you guys fantasize.Runing a country is no joke and it requires ppl who have self-respect and can earn respect and love of the people and not their hate!

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  6. @Rafiqul Alam on Mon, 20th Feb 2012 12:29 AM

    "That the country will not be sold to foreigners."

    Oh really? What country are you living in then? I don't see ANY change in economic policy from Waheed. In fact, he said publicly, that he is not changing any of the existing policies.

    All the foreigners that you talk about are still here and will continue to be here. Your boy Adheeb is bending backwards to get more of them in to the country as we speak.

    Would you mind addressing these points?

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  7. @Rafiqul 'freed from Anni's madness' and plunged head first into the dictatorship we had before?
    I agree we saw a number of instances during Nasheed's presidency which were not the most democratic decisions. However, Waheed and how he hijacked the presidency is far, far worse. It's not a matter of pledging blind support to Nasheed, but of attempting to strengthen a democratic system here. Right now, Nasheed seems to be the most promising candidate as a president in terms of building a democacy.

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  8. Velezinee, for people like you everything that goes bad in this country is due to Gayoom and everything good is due to Anni. What a joke is that? Who is going to harm you in this country? There is no purpose in that and you are not that important. Talking of numbers I had seen the gathering in 17th Feb MDP gathering and 23rd Dec Iththihaad gathering. The crowd at Iththihaa gathering is much much more than MDP gathering.

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  9. I think I agree with Velezinee on the constitutional issues. Its not about a person, it is an issue how the constitution enable justice to be served and protection to all.

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  10. Hi Rafiqul!u r supporting corrupted dictators. u r one of the thugs in Male'.Anni the small gentleman brought the democracy to Maldives. but some fools and thugs don't like. they can't earn black money. that's why they forced out. This illegal government will not get international support. u c what will happen!

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  11. Hello Rafi, open ur eyes n c what this barbaric police n mndf did.they tortured innocent people on streets. they behaved like animals.They will be punished by God!Ok,We saw videos. How they destroyed MDP head office. How the tortured people.Are you eating rice or grass?Anni is not mad. U r really mad.

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  12. Vel don't bother about the negative comments you receive here or what people say to you. Its only the insecure talking. They know what you are saying is right and you are very right, in that most people don't have the slightest idea of just how deep the corruption is and just how much is at stake. From now on I will always include you in my prayers and pray for your protection and for you to succeed. Its really sick that some people can't see beyond their hatred for certain people, into just what extent people in the JSC and the Judiciary are willing to go to cover their tracks. To think that they tried to kill you and continued to talk about silencing you is just unbelievable! And yet we have normal citizens backing these murderers!

    Of course it goes without saying that these people were really worried about their secrets being leaked, for them to come out onto the streets to protect their corrupt judge. Shame on the policemen who are writing on your FB wall. Maybe they think they are invincible, and they forget that death is determined by Allah, not by their batons and not by how much power and money they have. Sad truth is that even though there are a lot of ordinary citizens who are angry about the coup, for most people its life as normal, as long as their personal lives and interests aren't affected. I salute the efforts you and people like you are making to bring democracy into a country where there is such little solidarity among the people. May Allah bless you always Vel and may Allah give you the strength to continue your fight.

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  13. oh there were LOTS more people at MDP rally than there were at iththihaadh. iththihaadh was built on flimsy ground; to protest idols that weren't idols and to protect what was already protected. and backing them were those who profited from the sale of the very things they wished to ban. it was a matter of time before they vanished in a puff of logic, to borrow a phrase.

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  14. What Velezinee has spoken is absolutely true, but unfortunately, JJ Robinson has made it sound like it was spoken by a nosy ol' biddie.

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  15. @maikaaloa on Mon, 20th Feb:
    "The crowd at Iththihaa gathering is much much more than MDP gathering."

    This is true. And this is the problem of the country:
    The analphabets and uneducated including Mr.Ghasim and Adhaaran-leaders form the majority of Maldives and command the roads.
    The the real problem.

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  16. My only wish is that the International Community takes Velizee and us seriously before it's too late for her and us. Having said that I do not have any hope of them coming to our rescue. What are 300,000 people without oil to them?

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  17. @Chief justice

    can you point out to me who these people of respect that you're referring to?? i hope its not maumoon and his pedophiles. and talking about respect and love of the people, you must be blind not to see the support for nasheed. in male' and through out maldives.

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  18. Velezinee, not this country but the U.K needs you to reform their so called supreme court of House of Lords(which is also the upper house of parliament), which is nothing but group of conservative aristrocrats of the same blood line protecting the Queen.Tell me one judiciary in the world dat dishes out judgements like selling pan cakes?justice is delayed in all legal systems all over the world and no one has found a remedy to that for obvious reasons.Unkown to you, the Maldives has a very strong and increasing number of law graduates who know very well what you guys are upto and the humiliation you are putting people of respect to!If you think the judiciary has failed bring about individual cases and the wrong judgements and expose them!when you cant even show one of that don't go about blaming A.Gayoom or delayed justice or release due to lack of evidence!As for magistrates not been educated enough it is sufficient for them to even be lay men in the most civilized societies of the World! as long as the upper courts are in order and as far as i know the supreme court's bench was appointed by Nasheed and approved by parliament.dat's as democtratic as it can get!

    This is all ur personal agenda, not about reforming a legal system that dates centuries back and has been the backbone of this country's independence!

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  19. SBI reluctant to give loans because of our judicial system. Mock Velezinee all you want. But we will be looses in the end.

    http://www.miadhu.com/2012/02/local-news/maldivian-judiciary-is-the-biggest-obstacle-in-granting-loans-sbi/?utm_source=facebook_1

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  20. We need a fresh election to elect a government to replace the illegitimate regime. We don't want to accept a coup as the means to change the government even if there is need for change.

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  21. I would like to tell the Business Community and international investors, That any business deals with current coupe led illegal government is non binding and will be investigated as soon as a democratic government is installed in the Maldives.

    Yameen and Gasim will be eying to scoop new Resort islands through corrupt means, Already the puppet tourism minister gave hints about bidding of new resort islands.

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  22. You need to correct your heading.

    First it is a silent coup. Then it is a military coup. Now since MDP is cornered (ie, standing lonely), it is also a political coup, which you should mention. So there are 3 coups.

    Since the opposition is now politically united, its now immaterial whether it is a military coup or not. Welcome to the world of realpolitic.

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  23. When we get the power of the goverment,the peoples power of the maldives , there will be a disaster for Vgunge Sarukaaru.Bodu vagu Yamin,Maumoon Golhaaboa,Boduvagu burumaa,only the.Only this country suffers because of these filthy minded pigs who is stealing our money millions, we must some how will eliminate all these time to come soon, you will see this b4 you.

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  24. Aishath Velezinee, on behalf of who she represented and her own self, spoke for justice that was due to the people of Maldives.

    She stood by the cause then, and is still standing by.

    People can mock at her or do what ever, but that will not delete facts.

    None of us had the guts to do what she has done for this country and to herself.

    Put Aishath Velezinee on one half of the scale, and the rest of Maldives on the other; Aishath Velezinee would weigh more or moral grounds.

    As a Maldivian, I am humbled, and I will not be a part in this injustice that is being done to one of the BRAVEST LADIES of our time.

    Aishath Velezinee, keep going. I pray you be rewarded by the most beneficent and the most merciful.

    Good Luck to you and May Allah bless you Aishath Velezinee! You have earned my respect.

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  25. Here the people comments about the person who related the event instead to the real problem of our judiciary system.very sad indeed.

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  26. May Allah bless you and always protect you, vel, amin..

    Keep writing! spread the facts! at the ends the truth will prevail, insyaAllah!

    My pray and support for you, vel!

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  27. Velezinee is just one of the barking dogs of dictator nasheed! Someone please spend 24 hours with her and if that someone is a morally valued person...the person would reject her!! BARK BARK!!

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  28. Very Proud to have a woman such as you to look up to. Well done Vel, Keep going. I am sure once you sit down to write you will have many more people scared of you. good luck and my prayers for your safety.

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  29. The most important question though is, why Velezinee is not wearing the veil. It is commanded in the quran, and is absolutely compulsory.

    I am surprised why JJ didn't ask her this.

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  30. JJ I also love you for the baised reports! Anni definitly will love you so much now and will increase your salary!! Love u so much!! Do please spread MDP propaganda!! Do write these reports more!

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  31. Vel as someone who had worked with you before, I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate what you are doing and what you have been doing regarding the whole JSC saga.

    That evening when you were trying to appeal desperately to the would be judges, to not take the oath as things are, I was so hoping that some of those people, specially some of those who have been really close to you, would help you out in the end. It was really heart breaking even for me to see that no one was taking any notice, so I can't even imagine how you must have felt at that moment.

    Don't pay too much attention to those who are commenting in such a negative and vile manner.

    I can assure you that no work of any servant of Allah that is being done for the betterment of humanity and justice, would be wasted. And I pray that you be rewarded aplenty for this courageous work.

    I always think of you as someone who has so much potential, who would do great things in her time.
    In my humble opinion you are doing so much more for Maldivians than Adaalath party and that is such a sad state of affairs considering that Adaalath claims to have Islam as their guiding principle.

    May Allah, bless you and reward you and always guide us all to the right path.
    Amin

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  32. Great interview JJ - you are the only true voice left in the country after the return of the dictatorship and the media gagging. Don't leave us now, the world needs to know the truth and there is no other way of communicating this.

    Velez: You are 100% right - now may-be the silent majourity will see what you see and feel what you feel.
    ELECTIONS TOMORROW PLEASE!!!!! LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

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  33. My eyes were closed and now they are open after i went through this interview..... It's all so true what this lady is saying about our JSC.

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  34. @ correction:

    If everyone of this country starts stealing or raping can these sins or crimes turn into virtuous acts? If a coup (toppling a government by illegal means, usually involving part of the military) is unconstitutional it cannot become constitutional even though all the opposition is united behind it.

    Thus, it remains to be established, if not yet, whether a coup is constitutional or otherwise acceptable.

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  35. Velezinee has brought to light like no other the roots of the evil which lies at the bottom of the hopeless situation an entire nation is in; the corruption of the justice system!!! Every child in Male knows that there is simply NO JUSTICE in the country since the judiciary lies in the hands of not only unprofessional, but far worse, CORRUPT people. With what money could one of the poorest countries in the world build in 30 years a village into a city? On who's conscious are 30'000 drugaddicts? How could those drugs enter the country? When there is no justice in a country...there is bound to be all the misery we today see and undergo in Male. Velezinee is a brave woman like no other! I fear for her safety. She is fighting against people who have no shame, no dignity no fear to get what they need most: HOLY MONEY! People who do not mind walkint over dead bodies to reach their aim. Velezinee never give up your struggle for justice! You are a heroine!

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  36. Velezinee! You are a brave soul. As a country we do not deserve people like you because we are as a majority have a little attention span and base our judgements around the superficial. I have no hope. It is true the people lost. Most people don't know what goes on in the close doors of the judiciary. They do not understand that it needs change, what could you expect - you don't miss what you didn't have. We never had justice in this country.

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  37. @ SHeikh Imran Abdullah. U seem so concerned over Velezini not wearing the veil. Well, how about telling the former dictator's wife Nasreena, or the present dicator's wife Ilhaam, and their daughters to wear it first? >.>

    Velezini, YOU are my idol. You are the most inspirational women in the Maldives for me atleast, and you have inspired me to get up and stand up for my rights. I would also like to note Ms.Velezini was the only one who took the Holy Quran to the Parliament Security Coucil meeting, and swore on it. The other silly excuses for humanbeings who call themselves parliament members, made fun of the fact that the Holy Quran was on the table.

    So, If you ask ME to choose between Ms. Aishath Velezini and a bunch of sexist silly excuses for human beings, I would most DEFINITELY choose Velezini's word over them. And it is time the people of the Maldives came to terms with the truth too.

    What happened on the 7th of February was NOTHING but a coup. And I REFUSE to accept the so called current government and it's terrorist President, Vice president and ministers. They are nothing but terrorists and I pray that Allah gives the people of the Maldives enough wisdom to overcome the obstacles formed by these thugs.

    May Allah bless the brave Velezini.

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  38. Ps. Sheikh Imran Abdulla...to answer your question: Velezinee does not wear the veil because she has nothing to hide!She is hungry for justice and truth, the real islamic values!!!

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  39. Dear Velezinee, You have just become my hero. Every human being should be proud of this excellent Lady.

    You are proud Daughter of this land. too proud.

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  40. Well said Velezinee, too right. Respect you so much for walking the talk. You make things very clear - its the institutions of democracy that these goons ultimately fear. In a lawless land they or their children will one day face the consequences of their actions. Actions always have consequences,(duh)maybe they are forgetting that today. Their reminder is just round the corner.

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  41. velaziney u are a piece of s**t for some madcows u are inspirational.like a made dog with its tongue hanging out u were shouting,u should see ur face it was inpirationaly ridiculous.

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