Cabinet decision will increase police use of non-lethal weapons, including tasers

Cabinet yesterday decided to permit police to use non-lethal weapons to curb the gang violence in Maldives.

The President’s Office said the decision was made after discussing a paper submitted to the cabinet by the National Security Advisor ”raising concern over the continuous increase of gang violence, street mugging and other serious criminal activities that risk people’s lives and social stability.”

”Discussing the paper, members of the Cabinet noted that existing police fir power to stop gang violence was not appropriate for current situation compared to some of the more lethal weapons used by gangs,” said the President’s Office. ”They also noted that, in a democratic country, granting police the power and capability to discharge their legal duties to maintain internal stability and security, and protect the economy, was necessary for national security.”

An official from the President’s Office said that non-lethal weapons including electroshock taser guns and mace spray were permitted under the new regulation, while the use and effectiveness of weapons already in use such as pepper spray were discussed. The official said he was unsure whether the decision included the use of rubber munitions.

Tasers are widely used as a ranged non-lethal option by many law enforcement agencies around the world such as the US, but have been criticised for their misuse by some officers and potential to cause cardiac problems in some recipients of the shock.  Mace is the brandname for a strong form of pepper spray, which causes a burning sensation on mucus membranes but is short-range.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that police had not yet been informed as to what types of non-lethal weapons were now allowed.

”After we know what types of non-lethal weapons are allowed we can say how effective it might be on our operations to curb gang violence,” Shiyam said.

Currently tear gas, pepper spray and batons are used by police in the Maldives, however police have been previously criticised for inaction when confronted with gangs wielding knives and swords. In a recent attempted robbery of Baros Island Resort police discovered a harpoon gun in a boat allegedly used transport  the suspects to the island, however more conventional firearms are extremely rare in the country.

Recently a gang attacked another gang in the artificial beach area using sharp objects, shovels and iron bars, in the presence of many passing women and children who was enjoying the venue on the weekend. Local media reported that one woman fainted after witnessing the attack, while the gang also threatened a person in the area and robbed him of his motorbike at knife-point.

In another recent incident, a 21 year-old man identified as Ahusan Basheer was murdered in a gang attack despite reportedly informing police that he felt he was at risk of being attacked.

When journalists queried Deputy Head of Serious and Organised Crime Department Inspector Abdulla Nawaz in a recent press conference about Basheer’s security request, he said he had not received information regarding the matter.

In another incident two persons were stabbed near Maaziya football ground and one of the victims bled to death after a major artery was severed.

Blame has been passed between police and the Criminal Court for the lack of prosecutions  – police claim the court is being lenient with offenders, while the court claims police are providing insufficient evidence to convict.

”The court does not refer to the nature of the crime but rather refers to the evidence brought to the court against the accused,” said the criminal court in a recent statement, noting that everyone is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law and that ”everyone accused of criminal offense is not a criminal.”

The first to be reported dead in a gang attack was on December 3, 2007, where a person named Ali Ishar, 21, died after he was beaten and stabbed in the Henveiru Ward of Male’.

On April 12, 2008, 15-year-old Shifau Ismail died from heart failure, after being severely beaten with metal bars and sticks in a gang-related attack which was believed to be a revenge attack.

Ahmed Shaneed, 15, died on the eve of the second round of presidential elections while another man attacked in April of the same year died in hospital that October.

On December 8, 2008, Samir Abdul Mueen, 23, died after he was stabbed multiple times by two or three men on motorcycles on Male’s Janavaree Magu.

Abdulla Faruhad, 18, of Seenu atoll Hulhudhoo Lilymaage was stabbed on Majeedhee Magu in March 2009 and died shortly afterwards.

Many such deaths and gang related crimes were recorded after 2007, suggesting an increase the number of crimes committed annually. Perception or fear of crime – in many countries often considered more socially damaging that the crime itself – has risen markedly.

Authorities have responded with periodic crackdowns that typically result in a large number of arrests but few prosecutions.

Last year police and the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) arrested almost 60 people, including children, in a joint special operation launched on July 15 to curb gang violence after series of revenge attacks occurred between gangs in Male’ likewise the police special operation underway following the death of Ahusan Basheer.

Many of those who were arrested in the special operations claimed that the police and MNDF officers mistreated and abused them during their arrest and detention.

Many armed robberies and assaults were also reported last year.

In December 2009, prominent businessman Ahmed Ibrahim Didi, known as ‘Campus’ Didi, was stabbed and robbed of almost US$300,000 in cash by unknown assailants.

On December 30 the same year, the manager Mohamed Rashaad Adam and an employee of the Sunfront store on Majeedhee Magu were attacked on their way home.

On January 7, the Department of Penitentiary and Rehabilitation Services (DPRS) launched a rehabilitation program for recently released inmates who were serving time for minor drug offences. There were 62 former inmates enrolled in this program, with more than 150 still awaiting clearance.

On January 10, a man was attacked and stabbed with a sharp object in the early hours of that morning. According to police, he man was attacked by a gang of six men. A boy under the age of 18 was arrested in connection to the case.

On January 17, police arrested 19 people in connection with the stabbing of Ahmed Ibrahim ‘Campus’ Didi.

On January 20, head of the police drug enforcement unit Mohamed Jinah claimed “it won’t be long” before police arrest the remaining four of the top six drug dealers identified by President Mohamed Nasheed.

“Two of the top six drug dealers have been arrested. We will arrest the remaining four as soon as possible,” he promised.

On January 23, a group of men allegedly gang raped a woman on Fuvahmulah after dragging her to a beach and restraining her husband.

On January 28, six men were injured in a fight between two groups in Gnaviyanni Faumulaku, and one of the injured men died while receiving treatment.

On February 7, a 15 year old boy and his 35 year old father were attacked and stabbed by gang members in  Hulhumale’.

On February 8, a businessman was attacked and robbed of Rf435,000 (US$33850) and US$7100 on Janavary Magu near Sonee Hardware.

On March 1, President Mohamed Nasheed criticised the judiciary during a Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) rally and said that the government would not back down and will continue to arrest drug dealers.

On March 2, a man driving a pick-up truck was stabbed near Vaadhee Fresh in Maameyo Magu.

On March 3, the country manager of Habib Bank was stabbed and robbed in his home by a gang of four masked men. During the incident he suffered injuries to his nose, forehead and right arm but was not seriously hurt.

On March 8, police arrested three men in connection with the armed robbery of Habib Bank’s country manager.

On March 15, four men forcibly entered DhiTV studios and attacked five senior officials at the station afternoon, shortly after the station aired a report on its 2 o’clock news claiming that Ibrahim Nafiz, ‘Chika’, had been released to house arrest. Three hours after the alleged gang attack on DhiTV, a Haveeru employee was stabbed in the back.

Abdul Razzag Adam, 39, who works at the printing department, was knifed outside the Haveeru office building while he was on his cycle.

On March 25, a well-known flower shop on Sosun Magu, Cactus, was robbed by a group of intruders who threatened staff with knives and box cutters.

A witness to the incident, who spoke with the staff, told Minivan News that three men entered the flower shop and threatened the staff with knives and cutters, and stole Rf35,000 (US$2700)

On March 26, a group of 15 men abducted, drugged and gang raped a 20 year old girl while reportedly filming the incident with a mobile phone.

On March 30 the Maldives Police Service (MPS) claimed some politicians were using gangs to cause unrest, intimidate people and attack opponents.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed that “police have learned some politicians have used gang members to create unrest.”

On April 19, police arrested 22 people including four children under the age of 18 in Laamu Gan, after they were attacked during a wave of gang violence.

Police alleged gang members broke the glass windows of a shop in the industrial area of Mathimaradhu, burnt down a hut in Mulurimagu [district] and broke the windows of two houses. When they tried to stop the gang members, police claim they they were attacked and a police vehicle was damaged.

On 3 May, two men on a motorbike stabbed a 16 year old child in front of two police officers on Ameenee Magu near Imadudeen School, before fleeing.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam said that the two police officers were investigating a motor vehicle accident when the incident occurred. The boy injured his lungs and arm during the stab.

On 26 May, a taxi driver threatened a 19 year-old girl with a knife inside his car. The girl was forced to give money to the driver while she was traveling to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

On 29 May two men stabbed a 14 year-old boy in eight places, injuring his lungs and liver.