Trial Of Minivan Journalist Postponed Again

The trial of Minivan Daily’s Deputy-Editor, Nazim Sattar, has been postponed again after the journalist was summoned to court at 12:30pm today. No date was given for the next hearing, a common government practice.

Nazim is being tried for ‘disobedience to order’ for an article that appeared in Minivan Daily on 2 August, 2005. In an unusual twist, Minivan Daily’s editor, Aminath Najeeb, has been summoned as a witness by the prosecution.

Today would have been the third court session in the trial, which focuses on a news story in which MDP member, Ahmed Abbas, is quoted as saying: “What we should do to those in the Star Force who beat us, is to seek them out individually and for us to act in such a manner that makes them feel that beatings result in pain, otherwise they will not be subdued.”

Abbas was jailed in early November in the run-up to an opposition mass protest which was cancelled for fear of excess violence.

The Star Force is the hardcore elite unit of the Maldivian police feared by many. They are recognisable for their distinctive blue patchwork uniforms. The Force says a number of their officers have been verbally abused by members of the public over the past year. They claim that the article is responsible for this abuse, which has left the crack paramilitary unit in a state of “mental trauma.”

Star Force member Hussain Shahil (MA. Cool Stone/ Male’) claims he was called a “fat rascal” by a member of the public following the publication of the Minivan article.

“In addition to this, on 25 January 2006 the day when Mohamed Nasheed’s (G. Keneryge’) trial was held in Dharubaruge, I was part of the security team there, when [a member of the public] said to me, “You are the one who hit me, don’t assume you are unidentifiable just because you’ve donned a mask on your face,” Shahil said in his witness statement.

Star Force member Ali Moosa (MA. Kamiyabuge/ Male’) says he was also called a “rascal,” five months after the publication of the article:

“On 3 January 2006…we were on our way to the Gaaf Dhaal, Thinadoo Police Station, when a group of around ten people followed us and, indicating Constable Mohamed Nishan, threatened us saying, “This is the rascal who lifted and carried Anni [MDP Chairperson Mohamed Nasheed], you cannot step out of here”.

Lance Corporal Mazin Mohamed (Male’ Municipality Special Register/ Male’), meanwhile, said he was so terrified by the article he “dared not step out of the house for sometime.”

A fourth Star Force witness, Ahmed Nishan (popularly referred to as ‘Star Baby), also claims to have been “traumatised” by the Minivan article.