Tag: protest

Doctors ‘disappeared’ as Bahrain cracks down after protests

Authorities in Bahrain have arrested 32 doctors including surgeons, physicians, paediatricians and obstetricians following its crackdown on Shia-led protests last month.

The UK’s Independent newspaper reported that one doctor was arrested while operating on a patient while another, an intensive care specialist, was detained after a photograph was published of her weeping over a dead protester.

Many of the doctors were ‘disappeared’, with their locations and condition unknown to their families. Four detainees have died in police custody following the riots in February.

One Bahrani doctor indicated to a colleague in the UK that the detentions were in retaliation for treating protesters injured in clashes with security forces.

“Interrogation committees question me about our role in treating the injured protesters, who are considered now criminal for protesting against the government. We said we were there to treat patients and have nothing to do with politics,” the doctor said.

News of the detentions led to a statement issued by the UK’s Royal College of Surgeons, stating that “these reports of harassment of medical staff in the ongoing unrest in Bahrain, including surgeons trained in the UK, are deeply disturbing. The protection and care of people wounded in conflict is a basic right guaranteed by the Geneva Convention and one that every doctor or medical institution should be free to fulfil.”

Bahrani Ambassador to the United States, Houda Nonoo, claimed earlier this month that the Salmaniya Medical Complex had been hijacked by “violent opposition forces” and used as a command centre.

In response to the protests Bahrain declared martial law in the tiny Gulf state and allowed 1000 Saudi Arabian troops from Saudi Arabia into the country to quell the Shia-led uprising. Six protesters were declared dead after troops overran the demonstrators camp.

Bahrain’s opposition Shia Wefaq party subsequently issued a statement condemning the arrival of Saudi troops as an assault on the country’s sovereignty.

“We consider the entry of Saudi Arabia or other Gulf forces into the Kingdom of Bahrain’s air, sea or land territories a blatant occupation,” the party said.

The King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa has meanwhile reportedly moved US$42 billion of the country’s wealth into Swiss bank accounts.

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Villingili observes moment of silence in memory of assault victim

A group of about 200 people living in Villingili on Friday observed a moment of silence to commemorate Ahmed Mirza, 25, who died after  suffering severe injuries to his head in a violent attack last week.

The group marched on the streets of Villingili calling for the death penalty to be issued to murderers. Demonstrators also marched towards the houses of five suspects arrested in connection with the case and gathered outside.

Media reported that police blocked the entrance of the houses as demonstrators gathered around.

The march was also attended by opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) MP Ahmed Nihan and family members of Mirza, and ended peacefully at the Children’s Park in Villingili where Mirza was last sitting before he was attacked

Nihan did not respond to Minivan News at time of press.

Mirza was assaulted last Monday with iron bars and other weapons in Villingili after he allegedly made comments concerning a girl.

He died early Thursday morning in Indira Gandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Mirza was declared brain-dead after doctors at the IGMH examined him and was kept on life support for almost two days according to the family’s wishes.

Mirza’s father told local newspaper Haveeru that his son had made plans to marry his girlfriend after a month.

Currently a Criminal Procedure Bill and an amendment to the Clemency Act to uphold death sentences withdrawing the authority president has to grant clemency on those sentenced to death are being presented to the parliament to curb the gang violence.

The Criminal Procedure Bill presented by Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) Parliamentary Group Leader MP ‘Reeco’ Moosa Manik was accepted by the parliament has now been sent to the National Security Committee.

The amendment to the Clemency Act presented by Jumhoree Party (JP) MP Ibrahim Muthalib requires to uphold death sentences if upheld by the Supreme Court or if the Supreme Court itself delivered a death sentence.

Currently all the death sentences issued are implemented as a 25 year imprisonment.

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DRP factions plan concurrent protest marches against managed float of rufiya

Rival factions of the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) have announced concurrent protest marches in Male’ tonight to demonstrate against the government’s decision to allow the rufiya to be traded within 20 percent of the pegged rate of Rf12.85 to the dollar.

Mohamed Hussein Shareef “Mundhu”, spokesman for former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, told press yesterday that the ‘Gayoom faction’ will choose a different route to DRP Leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali’s faction to avoid possible clashes. The largest opposition party has been engulfed in factional strife following its dismissal of Deputy Leader Umar Naseer.

The march will begin at the tsunami memorial area at 9:00pm, “and we are consulting with police to determine the roads we’ll take,” Mundhu said.

At a rally last night to launch “DRP’s Main Office” near the artificial beach, dismissed Deputy Leader Umar Naseer echoed Mundhu’s appeal earlier in the day for opposition supporters not to join Thasmeen faction’s march.

Both Mundhu and Umar dismissed the rival faction’s planned protest as “a walk by Thasmeen’s family.”

Mundhu further claimed that Thasmeen had refused to authorise DRP protests in the past.

Unlike previous protests, said Umar, tonight’s “peaceful march” would not involve gathering outside presidential residence Muleeage or the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) headquarters, both restricted areas under freedom of assembly regulations and which have previously resulted in violent clashes between authorities and opposition supporters.

Rival rallies

Addressing supporters at last night’s rally, Umar accused the DRP Leader of splitting the party, claiming that DRP members were behind former President Gayoom and calling on “everyone working with Thasmeen to get behind Zaeem [Maumoon].”

If DRP members shun activities planned by the Thasmeen faction, Umar said that support for the embattled leader would “wither away.”

Deputy Leader Ilham Ahmed argued that if the party’s presidential candidate for 2013 had been chosen through a primary during the DRP’s third congress in March 2010 the current split could have been avoided.

“If it had been done through a primary we wouldn’t have this dissatisfaction among us,” said the Gemanafushi MP. “Therefore, I would say, even if some people are unhappy, we will have a primary. God willing, we will do that before too long.”

Vowing to “cut them down to size,” Ilham alleged that senior DRP members were “making secret deals with the government.”

Thasmeen and his allies should be “ashamed” to talk about the dollar shortage, said Ilham, as a deal had been stuck to raise the value of the dollar “inside [Speaker] Abdulla Shahid’s chambers” when the 2011 budget was passed.

Thasmeen faction’s concurrent rally was announced at press conference yesterday by Deputy Leader Ali Waheed.

While Gayoom factions members have been boycotting its meetings, the DRP Council reportedly passed a resolution last night to require the party’s secretariat approval before using the DRP logo or official seal.

However a defiant Ilham has since told local media that the council did not have the authority to ban a practice not explicitly forbidden in the party charter.

“I am a Deputy Leader elected by ordinary members of the party,” he said. “There is nothing in the party’s charter that says a Deputy Leader can’t use the party’s logo and seal.”

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Bahrain declares martial law as Saudi troops clash with Shia protesters

The King of Bahrain has declared martial law in the Gulf state after allowing 1000 troops from Saudi Arabia into the country to quell an uprising of Shia demonstrators.

Violent demonstrations in tiny Shia-majority country, ruled by a US-backed Sunni-elite, yesterday saw four shot dead, including two protesters, one Bahrani policemen, and a Saudi soldier.

A further six protesters were declared dead after troops overran the demonstrators camp this morning. Observers also observed an armoured personal carrier on the scene with the flag of the UAE.

A doctor spoken to by the UK’s Guardian newspaper said that Saudi troops were preventing staff from leaving the hospital where he worked.

“They are shooting at us, they are shooting,” he said. “Get help, get the international community to help.”

Media reported protesters outside the hospital as chanting “with our blood and our souls we will fight the mercenaries.”

Bahrain’s opposition Shia Wefaq party yesterday issued a statement condemning the arrival of Saudi troops as an assault on the country’s sovereignty.

“We consider the entry of Saudi Arabia or other Gulf forces into the Kingdom of Bahrain’s air, sea or land territories a blatant occupation,” the party said.

Iran, a majority Shia country, waded into the burgeoning conflict when foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi asked Bahrain not to harm the Shia demonstrators. In response, Bahrain withdrew its ambassador from Tehran in protest.

An Iranian MP, Kazem Jalali, described the Saudi interference as a “criminal” attempt by the US and Saudi Arabia to repress peaceful anti-government protests, pointing to the recent visit of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to he gulf nation.

There were further signs that the escalating crisis in the 200 year-old monarchy could reignite an ongoing Sunni-Shia feud in the region, after the militant Shia Hezbollah group in Lebanon said that military action against demonstrations would disrupt Bahrain’s already fragile society – 70 percent of the population are Shia, but are largely underrepresented in senior government and political positions.

“Military intervention and the use of violence against a peaceful and popular movement will only complicate matters and eliminate chances of finding a solution,” Hezbollah said.

The UK embassy in the Bahraini capital of Manama closed its doors, while the US – which has substantial military assets in the kingdom, including the US Fifth fleet – ruled out military action.

The UK has closed its embassy in Manama, while the EU and the US have said there is “no military solution” to the crisis. The US maintains its Fifth Fleet in Manama’s port and has significant intelligence interests in the kingdom.

The Formula One grand prix, due to be held in Bahrain this year, has been postponed.


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DRP and MDP clashes leave 10 police officers injured

Protests held last night by the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) and ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) erupted into violent confrontations around the capital of Male’, leaving four police officers badly injured and six others with minor injuries.

Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam believed that police had generally managed to keep protesters – thought to represent both the MDP and DRP – apart during violent confrontations, without resorting to measures such as using tear gas to disperse crowds.

However, he confirmed that the police had suffered both serious and minor casualties in trying to subdue violence among sections of the protesters alleged to represent both parties.

The evening’s protests had began peacefully with a DRP rally being held outside the party’s head office near the artificial beach in Henveiru.

Earlier in the day, the DRP’s former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer had told the media that he expected police would begin using tear gas to try and suppress a planned march around Male’.

Following the rally, some of the protesters present were then thought to have moved towards the national flag in ‘Jumhoory Maidhan’.

However, riot police obstructed the route used by the DRP supporters as they neared the residence of President Mohamed Nasheed at Muleeage, according to the Maldives Police Service.

Eye witnesses who spoke to Minivan News claimed that DRP supporters had tried to break through police lines in an attempt to enter the restricted areas to protest.

MDP activists around that time were also reported to have gathered in front of the residence of Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. The MDP protesters were reported to have called for Gayoom’s arrest, as well as accusing the DRP of attempting to gather at an area restricted for political gatherings.

Afterwards, local press reports said that DRP supporters had travelled towards former president Gayoom’s home where MDP activists were also gathered.

Police said that activists of both parties clashed and threw stones that resulted in injuries to both police and supporters.

The Protests were said to have officially ended when MDP supporters left the area around 2:00 am in the morning.

Local media have reported that while supporters from both parties were believed to have been involved in the violence, some windows of the former president’s residence were broken.

However, Sub-Inspector Shiyam said that the police had not received any reports of vandalism to the property.

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Umar Naseer expects upcoming DRP protest to end with tear gas

Umar Naseer, former deputy leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), has said the opposition party will hold a protest in Male’ tonight from 9:00pm in order to demonstrate against the perceived unlawful actions and “torture” practiced by the current government.

”The government has been constantly violating the laws, religion and has been trying to over power the local councils,” Naseer claimed. ”After the protest, we have scheduled a march around the streets.”

The claims come as political parties have this week become embroiled in disputes over the legitimacy of some local councils opting to move the location of their offices without government approval.

Naseer said that all the country’s political parties were officially invited to join its protest over the issue and also called on as many citizens as possible to join in.

The former deputy leader who was dismissed from the party in December claimed he expected the protest would likely end with authorities using tear gas.

”We call on police not to follow any unlawful orders, we know that the government have been punishing police for not obeying their unlawful orders,” said Naseer. ”We are very pleased to know that Deputy Police Commissioner Rishwan was suspended for rejecting an unlawful order, it was a good example.”

He also criticized the government for not taking ” action against any senior government officials who are alleged to have been found posing naked in pictures and video files, but taking action on journalists who reported it.”

DRP MP Ahmed Mahlouf said the intention of the protest was to defend the laws and to ”make things go right.”

”All the good things we brought to the country has been turned upside down today,” Mahlouf said. ”Tonight, we are coming out to make them right again, to uphold the religion and democracy.”

Mahlouf referred to the conflict in the islands and said it was an ”additional circle to the chain of the current government’s torture.”

”If we have to, we will not hesitate to go near Muleeage or near the Home Minister’s house,” said Mahlouf.

Mahlouf said that many police officers were encouraged not to follow “unlawful orders” after the alleged suspension of the Deputy Police Commissioner. Police have yet to officially confirm whether Deputy Commissioner Rishwan had been suspended.

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Opposition commence series of protests demanding freedom of state media

Members of the main opposition Dhivehi Rayyihtunge Party (DRP) last night commenced the first in what they claimed was series of planned protests for the freedom of state media, in particular the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC), which they accuses of being subject to government influence.

The protest was organised by the party’s Youth Wing, led by DRP MP Ahmed Mahlouf. Former Deputy Leader of the DRP prior to his dismissal, Umar Naseer, was also heading the protest.

The opposition activists first gathered near the artificial beach before moving outside the MNBC studios in Galolhu ward.

Although the protest was supposed to be a peaceful gathering, confrontations erupted between opposition activists and a group of people who appeared from the nearby Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) head office.

”The ‘vigilant group’ from MDP came out of their head office while we were raising our voice in front of MNBC, and attempted to create violence,” said DRP MP Ahmed Nihan. ”Their faces are very familiar to us, we know them very well, they have been jailed several times and they have a number of criminal records.”

The confrontation was controlled by the police at its initial stage, and nobody was injured according to Nihan.

”At 11:20pm, we concluded the protests, but this is not the end, we will continue protesting,” he said. ”We know the government will be waiting for an opportunity to arrest us so that it will weaken our local council campaign, so bearing that in our mind we will continue the protests.”

He also alleged that MNBC did not cover the opposition protests because they were busy interviewing a government minister when the protest was going on outside.

”Later at the news they spoke about the protests and criticised us – they don’t even have time to broadcast the voice of citizens anymore,” he added.

Nihan further claimed that there were “some leaders” in the DRP ”who are very afraid to raise the voice of the people – all they do is sit at home and watch us protest while taking the credit for our work.”

MDP spokesperson Ibrahim Haleem denied that the group of people who attacked DRP activists were MDP members.

”MDP is too educated and civilized a party to do such things, they were not MDP supporters,” Haleem claimed. ”Maybe they thought they were MDP supporters because our head office is located near MNBC.”

He said that there were many citizens who were “very concerned” that former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had returned to politics, and also very concerned that former DRP Deputy Leader Umar Naseer “is still leading DRP protests despite being expelled from the party.”

Media tug-of-war

A political tug-of-war over Television Maldives (TVM) and Voice of Maldives (VOM) erupted in July 2010, after the executive signaled reluctance to hand control of state media to new body created by the opposition-majority parliament.

The state media outlets are operated by the Maldives National Broadcasting Corporation (MNBC), a 100 percent government owned company established by executive decree.

However in April parliament approved a law to establish a company called the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to operate the state media, with nine board members appointed by and answerable to parliament.

Serving Chairman of MNBC Mohamed “Madulu” Waheed and Managing Director Ibrahim Khaleel had proposed their names to the new MBC board, but were dropped from the shortlist by parliament.

“MNBC is a company established under a resolution by the president and all its assets and land also belong to the company under a contract,” observed the President’s Political Advisor – now Home Minister – Hassan Afeef in July.

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Opposition to protest tonight for freedom of state media

The main opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) has announced that it will hold a protest tonight against what they allege is the political bias of the state media.

The DRP has said that the protesters will set off the protest tonight from the artificial beach at 8:45pm.

”We have waited very patiently for a long time, but our patience is reaching its end. The state media is constantly promoting and campaigning for the government in different ways,” said DRP MP Ahmed Nihan. ”MNBC have been interviewing different government ministers and have been creating TV programs to promote the government.”

Nihan said he was “certain” there was “a secret deal” made between MNBC and the government.

”MNBC was re-branded and changed its name after two board members of Television Maldives (TVM) proposed their names for the Maldives Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) board but were dismissed from the parliament,” Nihan claimed. ”Whats happening is very clear for us and now we want the government to free state media and to make it independent.”

The opposition majority-parliament and the executive are grappling for control of MNBC, after parliament last year created MBC as a competing entity to MNBC and demanded that the government transfer MNBC’s assets. The government refused and the matter entered the judicial system.

Nihan suggested that President Mohamed Nasheed should “ring opposition MPs and give them encouragement like he did with opposition leader in Egypt, El-Baradei.”

”We will hold a very peaceful protest tonight and for now we have not planed to march anywhere, we will just remain at the artificial beach raising our voice,” he said.

He also said the youth’s wing of the party has invited everyone including leader Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and former Deputy Leader Umar Naseer to join the protest tonight.

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Journalists obstructed us during October protest coverage, say police

The Maldives Police Service has issued a statement following allegations made by the Maldives Media Council (MMC) that police used excessive force on journalists while they were covering the opposition-led protest in October 2010.

”On October 25, the behavior of the journalists covering the riot was different from how they have behaved during other riots, and they were definitely behaving in a way that that obstructed police from carrying out their duties,” said police in a statement.

”The Maldives Police Service hopes that the MMC, as the lawful body [overseeing] the media, will research the degraded actions of a few journalists who were active in the area and will work with them to correct their behaviour.”

The MMC has acknowledged that the behaviour of some journalists covering the riot “lacked discipline and professionalism”.

Police said they respected the media and believed that it was “very necessary in a modern democracy.”

”Police have worked very hard to establish easy ways for the media to gain information they need in matters related to police work,” police said.

The police recommended that the MMC avoid repeated incidents by researching how the media works in other democratic countries when covering riots and dangerous situations.

Several journalists from different media organisations have alleged that police attacked journalists covering the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP)-led protest.

Three journalists from DhiTV, two journalists from VillaTV and one from Miadhu reported that they were attacked by police.

The two journalists from VillaTV were also arrested, handcuffed, and released the same evening.

Following the incident, police claimed that the behaviour of some journalists resembled that of “opposition activists”.

‘’Some journalists opposed police orders and refused to stay in the security zone,” Shiyam said at the time. “It would have gone smoothly if they had worked according to orders given.’’

He said that police some journalists who opposed police orders were moved forcefully.

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