Government gets tough again in run-up to opposition rally
extracted from Reporters without borders
Reporters Without Borders voiced concern today about the attitude of the Maldivian authorities, who in the past few days have expelled two foreign journalists (including one working for the online newspaper Minivannews.com), arrested an opposition cartoonist and backtracked on plans to end the state’s broadcast media monopoly.
“The government should be trying to defuse tension on the eve of a major opposition demonstration, but instead the police are intimidating, expelling or arresting journalists perceived as being sympathetic to the protest,” the press freedom organisation said.
Read more........
Maldives - the dark side
Maldives may be celebrated among tourists as a prime beach destination, but its citizens see a darker side.
According to ARTICLE 19, the government is among the most repressive in Asia when it comes to freedom of expression. Local media are bound by draconian regulations that aim to silence any criticism of the government; outspoken journalists are routinely harassed and detained; and criminal laws are often used to prosecute critics.
ARTICLE 19 recently teamed up with Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and two other media support organisations on an international fact-finding mission to Maldives, where they met with government officials, diplomats, journalists and civil society representatives.
Organised by the Danish agency International Media Support, the mission took place from 3 to 6 May 2006.
The mission found that while the government has taken some steps to relax restrictions on free expression, including introducing proposals to reform media laws, serious concerns remain.
"Journalists covering political and social events and demonstrations and the participants to those demonstrations have been the victims of excessive use of force by the police," a statement by the mission said. In these cases, security forces have acted with total impunity.
The mission also recorded cases of death threats and verbal intimidation against journalists, both within independent and state-run media, and said this had resulted in a chilling effect on the media community and on freedom of expression.
During the mission, three members were roughed up by riot police while attending a World Press Freedom Day celebration hosted by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on 3 May. Their translator, Nazim Sattar, who is a sub-editor for the independent "Minivan News", was briefly detained.
- RSF Petition for Jailed Maldives Critic:http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=15623
Web censorship growing: report
About Freedom and Democracy
I believe it is vital to the interest of journalists and the public alike that we should educate the public with the knowledge that in a democratic society the journalist is, in fact, exercising the highest form of citizenship by monitoring events in the community and making the public aware of them and their importance; by skeptically examining the behavior of people and institutions of power; by encouraging and informing forums for public debate.
We need to make it clear to the public that the journalist best expresses citizenship by functioning as a committed observer. Far from being the disinterested, disengaged outsider many people consider journalists to be, because they do not take a direct activist�s role in affairs, the journalist who works in the public interest is one who is interdependent with the needs and hopes of his fellow citizens and uses his work to help all members of the community.
This special interdependence flows from the public�s need for timely, accurate, independent information and the journalist�s need for an interested public. This interdependent role of journalists is one of the defining characteristics of democracy.
A journalist is never more true to democracy � is never more engaged as a citizen, is never more patriotic � than when aggressively doing the job of independently verifying the news of the day; questioning the actions of those in authority; disclosing information the public needs but others wish secret for self-interested purposes. And this sort of interdependent role is not found only in journalists. Our society recognizes such independent, often infuriating, behavior by others in order to protect our freedom and the rights of citizenship. We recognize, for example, such independent behavior in doctors and lawyers.
We may be upset, but we should understand when we learn that in an emergency situation a doctor saves the life of a convicted child molester before treating a less seriously wounded policeman because deep down we know that is what a doctor�s role requires and it is in the interest of all of us that the doctor does so. We recognize such independent behavior by lawyers who diligently and aggressively fight on behalf of a defendant in court against the government even in the most troublesome cases. And deep down, we understand that it is just such adherence to the rule of law that protects all of us.
It is important that we help the public come to an understanding of this role for the journalists. Without journalism � without a steady, reliable flow of independent information without which the creation, care and continuation of a public opinion would not be possible � self government would disappear. Journalism and self government will rise or fall together.
If journalists are to effectively pursue the independence that their work requires, it is important that the public understand and accept that role as a valid one. The only way to assure that is for the journalist to act with the responsibility commensurate with the freedom their independence requires.
For all that the speed, techniques and character of the news delivery has changed, the primary purpose of journalism has not: to provide citizens with a credible and accurate account of events in society so that they can be free and self-governing.
The world in which the well of accurate, reliable, factual information is not being constantly replenished is one that becomes more polluted with gossip, rumor, speculation and propaganda. This is a mixture that is toxic to civic health. This is a mixture that will produce a public less and less able to participate in civic life. This is a mixture that makes it more and more likely that a self-appointed elite will be free to exercise its will on society.
The individual reporter may not be able to move much beyond a surface level of accuracy in a given story. But the first story builds to a second, which the sources of news have responded to mistakes and missing elements in the first, and the second to a third, and so on. Context is added in each successive layer. In most important and complex stories, there are subsequent contributions on the editorial pages and the letters to the editor � the full range of public conversation and private.
This practical truth thus becomes a protean thing that grows as a stalagmite in a cave, drop by drop over time. And the process by which it grows is transparent to the audience. This is the process we should help the public understand.
For, in the end, if history teaches us anything, it teaches us that freedom and democracy do not depend upon technology or the most efficient organization. Freedom and democracy depend upon individuals who refuse to give up the belief that the free flow of information has made freedom and human dignity possible.
Extracted from Monday Times Archive
Beyyaa hasn�t made-up his mind!
Allaa Beyyaa notes that at the moment we have no ambassador in our embassy at the United Nations (New York) and none in our embassy in London. Beyyaa has also heard that the Maldivian ambassador in Sri Lanka has been brought back to Male. In that case there�s no ambassador in Colombo also. (Sadly) Maldives has only three embassies in other countries, and it is even sadder when these three embassies are without ambassadors. It is not that we don�t have plenty of capable people, so why are these embassies empty at the moment?
As far as Beyyaa knows, the Maldivian embassy in London has never had a resident ambassador since the establishment of the embassy about five to ten years ago. The Maldivian ambassador or Permanent representative to the UN, Mr. Hussain Shihab was recently brought down from New York and assigned to the post of the Deputy Minster of Foreign Affairs. Since then the top position of Maldives� UN mission has been vacant.
Beyyaa wonder who will fill that position now. Beyyaa believes that there are some very capable diplomats within the present cabinet who could represent Maldives in New York very efficiently. Of course there�s plenty of fresh blood too, who could do the job just as capably. If not for anything else, even for just providing valuable experience, it is important that the top positions of our foreign missions are always filled.
The question that is on the mind of Beyyaa and many average Maldivians is: who will become the next Maldivian ambassador to Sri Lanka. The reason why Beyyaa and many other ordinary citizens care about this is that they travel to Colombo very often and would like to see a caring leader at the top position of the embassy in Colombo. The outgoing ambassador (Azee) was very popular with the Maldivians who travelled to Colombo. He went out of his way to help ordinary Maldivians.
Beyyaa was worried when his friend Dhonrahaa recently told him that the next ambassador to Colombo would be a person who is not particularly liked by ordinary Maldivians. Beyyaa travels to Colombo often and he would like the ambassador there to be approachable and kind hearted � not a ruthless and detached person. Another important point Beyyaa wants to remind is that Colombo is still our diplomatic gateway to the rest of the world and it is very important that our ambassador in Colombo is a respected and liked person who could portray the friendly tradition of the Maldives. Such a person should be �Dhivehi� not just in name but in character as well.
While on the subject of embassies and ambassadors, Beyyaa would also like to add that he dreams of a day when Maldives would have embassies in Malaysia, Geneva and India. Beyyaa believes that, especially after the recent visit of the Indian prime Minister to the Maldives, it is very important that we have an embassy in New Delhi. That would keep us closer to the heart of India, says Beyyaa. Malaysia has vast economic potentials and Beyyaa doesn�t see the office in Singapore doing enough to tap that potential from Malaysia. So Beyyaa would like to see an embassy in Malaysia.
Beyyaa believes that our perspectives and priorities in our foreign policy needs to be reassessed and we need to introduce drastic changes in order to gear ourselves to the reality of the 21st century. Or else we would be doomed to oblivion and mediocrity.
Extracted from Monday Times Archive
Maldives Sultans
Jul 1692 - Jan 1701 Muhammad (b. 16.. - d. 1701)
Jan 1701 - Oct 1701 `Ali VI (b. 16.. - d. 1701)
Oct 1701 - 1701 al-Hasan X (b. 1688 - d. 1765)
1701 - Dec 1704 Muzhir ad-Din Ibrahim
Dec 1704 - Oct 1721 `Imad ad-Din II Muhammad al-Muzaffar (b. 1661 - d. 1721)
Oct 1721 - Feb 1750 Ibrahim Iskandar II (b. 1708 - d. 1750)
Feb 1750 - 25 Jun 1757 `Imad ad-Din III Muhammad (b. 1717 - d. 1757)
1757 - 1759 Amina Rani Kilagefanu (f) -Rani
6 Dec 1759 - 2 Feb 1767 `Izz ad-Din al-Hasan Badeiri (d. 1767)
1767 - Dec 1773 Ghiyath ad-Din Muhammad (d. 1774)
Dec 1773 - May 1774 Shams ad-Din II Muhammad Iskandar (d. 1779)
May 1774 - 13 Sep 1779 Mu`izz ad-Din Muhammad Iskandar (d. 1779)
13 Sep 1779 - 2 Jun 1799 Nur ad-Din I al-Hasan (b. af.1751 - d. 1799)
2 Jun 1799 - 22 Jan 1835 Mu`in ad-Din I Muhammad (d. 1835)
22 Jan 1835 - 10 Jan 1882 `Imad ad-Din IV Muhammad (b. 1818 - d. 1882)
10 Jan 1882 - 18 Dec 1886 Nur ad-Din II Ibrahim (d. 1892)
18 Dec 1886 - 1888 Mu`in ad-Din II Muhammad (d. 1892)
1888 - 29 Nov 1892 Nur ad-Din II Ibrahim (2nd time)
Dec 1892 - May 1893 `Imad ad-Din V Muhammad (b. 1884 - d. 1920
May 1893 - 3 Aug 1893 Shams ad-Din III Muhammad Iskandar
3 Aug 1893 - 12 Mar 1903 `Imad ad-Din VI Muhammad
12 Mar 1903 - 2 Oct 1934 Shams ad-Din III Muhammad Iskanda
2 Oct 1934 - 12 Mar 1935 Amir `Ali Muhammad Farid
12 Mar 1935 - 8 Apr 1943 Nur ad-Din al-Hasan (b. 1902)
8 Apr 1943 - 3 Oct 1945 Amir `Ali Muhammad Farid (2nd time)
3 Oct 1945 - 21 Feb 1952 Amin `Abd al-Majid
21 Feb 1952 - 1 Jan 1953 Amir Ahmad Muhammad Amin Didi (b. 1910 - d. 1954)
Presidents
1 Jan 1953 - 2 Sep 1953 Amir Ahmad Muhammad Amin Didi (s.a.)
2 Sep 1953 - 7 Mar 1954 Ibrahim Muhammad Didi (acting)
Sultan
1 7 Mar 1954 - 11 Nov 1968 Muhammad Farid Didi (b. 1901 - d. 1969) Presidents 11 Nov 1968 - 11 Nov 1978 Ibrahim Nasir (b. 1926) 11 Nov 1978 - Maumoon Abdul Gayoom (b. 1937)
Prime ministers
1883 - 1887 Ibrahim Dorhimeyna Kilegefan (b. 1845 - d. 1925) (1st time) 1887 - 1888 .... 1888 - 1899 Ibrahim Dorhimeyna Kilegefan (s.a.) (2nd time) 1899 - 1904 ....
1904 - 1925 Ibrahim Dorhimeyna Kilegefan (s.a.) (3rd time)
1926 - 1932 Amin `Abd al-Majid Didi (s.a.
) 1932 - 29 Oct 1944 Amir `Ali Muhammad Farid 29 Oct 1944 - 2 Sep 1953 Amir Ahmad Muhammad Amin Didi (s.a.)
2 Sep 1953 - 12 Dec 1957 Ibrahim Ali Didi 12 Dec 1957 - 11 Nov 1968 Ibrahim Nasir (s.a.)
11 Nov 1968 - Aug 1972 Post Abolished Aug 1972 - 6 Mar 1975 Ahmed Zaki (b. 1931 - d. 1996)
it really pains
When i was reading local news from dhivehi observer i came across this picture. This is a Parliamnet member who is beaten by brutal forces. This is really disgusting and irritating. Who ever done this must be accountable for the next world.
For better democracy say no to this
United Suvadive Republic
The United Suvadive Republic (Dhivehi: އެކުވެރި ސުވައިދީބު ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާ) was a nation formed for a brief period of time by a group of republican separatists led by people in the remote southern atolls of the Maldives, namely Addu, Huvadu and Fuahmulah. Their independence was declared on January 03, 1959 and the nation capitulated and claimed back in September 23, 1963.
Suvadive (Dhivehi: ސުވައިދީބު) was originally an ancient name for the three southern most atolls of the Maldives.
Among those who were convicted for the uprising against the militiaman was a young, educated and well respected individual known as Abdullah Afeef Didi, who served as a translator to the British during their post. The new prime minister appointed him as the liaison officer between the British and the locals. Shortly afterwards in December of 1958, the government announced plans for a new tax infliction on boats. This caused an infectious rise of riots throughout the atoll which led to several attacks on government buildings, once again forcing officials to retreat to the safety of the British barracks. They owed their lives to Afeef Didi, who warned them of the impending unrest. [3]
Four days later, on January 03, 1959 a delegation of the Addu people arrived on Gan and declared their independence to the British. When he refused to accept the leadership offered by this delegation, Afeef Didi was threatened with his life and wellbeing, which ultimately gave him no choice but to take the role of the executive head of the state. He was chosen to lead them because of the British insistence on a trustworthy leader whom they were familiar with, before backing the rebellion. [4]
The newly formed republic flourished and soon wanting to share its wealth and prosperity, the two other southern atolls of Huvadoo and Fuvahmulah joined Addu to form the United Suvadive Republic.
They travelled independently to these countries without stopping over at Malé; hence there was no government control over these trade affairs. However, Mr Nasir introduced measures which were unfavourable to the three southern most atolls including the prohibition of direct sail to the neighbouring countries without clearing through Malé. The workers in Addu who could have enjoyed the benefits of direct payment from the British were also disappointed with the arrangement in which they were paid through the government in Malé. They believed that the government controlled the exchange rates to their disadvantage.
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BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE OF HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT MAUMOON ABDUL GAYOOM
Maumoonu Abdul Gayyoom
President of Republic of Maldives
"His leisure interests include reading, poetry, astronomy, photography, calligraphy, badminton and cricket."
A man of progressive thinking, President Gayoom’s governance has ushered in a hitherto unknown period of social and economic success for the nation. Since his assumption of office, the Maldives has made important strides towards greater democracy in a manner which has preserved and enhanced the country’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Through executive excellence and political foresight, President Gayoom has kept up the pace of change needed for a modern society by introducing and strengthening measures that ensured transparency and accountability in the government bureaucracy. The outstanding success attained in President Gayoom’s political life has been the historic milestone achieved in the recent political reform process he initiated – the introduction of a multi-party political system in the Maldives. As a man of the people, he continues to work to uplift the quality of life of the people, advocating good governance, and opening up new horizons for national development.
Born in Male’ in 1937 to a middle-class family, he quickly demonstrated a sound academic potential and, following early schooling in the capital, went first to Al-Azhar University in Cairo and later to the city’s American University; he obtained an M.A. in Islamic Studies at the former, where he also studied law and philosophy – academic disciplines in which he continued to have a keen interest. Indeed, President Gayoom, the politician and national leader, is every bit as much an intellectual as he is an able practitioner in government. His Degree in Islamic Studies earned him an academic appointment as a Lecturer in that discipline to Nigeria’s Abdullahi Bayero College, a faculty of Ahmadu Bello University, a post he held from 1969 to 1971.
However he returned home to the Maldives soon and began his career of service to the Republic. His first important government appointment was that of Manager of the Republic’s Shipping Department, which quickly led to his becoming Director of the Telephone Department. By 1974 he had well established his reputation as an able administrator and, consequently, was appointed Special Under-Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister. His first overseas appointment was to the diplomatic pos of Deputy Ambassador to neighbouring Sri Lanka. This was followed in two years by his appointment as the Maldives’ Permanent Representative to the United Nations. At his recall to Male’ in 1977, he was appointed Minister of Transport, and then in November 1978 was nominated as Presidential Candidate by the Citizens’ Majlis, winning a record 92.9% of the popular vote in the referendum which confirmed him as the undoubted choice of the people.
President Gayoom is a member of the Constituent Council of Rabitat Al-Alam Al-Islami (Muslim World League). He was awarded Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Alighar Muslim University of India in 1983, Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Jamia Millia Islamia of India in 1990 and Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by the Pondicherry University of India in 1994. He was also awarded the Global 500 Honour Roll by the United Nations Environment Programme in 1988, the International Environment Award by DRV (Travel Agents and Tour Operators Association of Germany) in 1998, and the Man of the Sea Award for 1990 by Lega Navale Italiana in 1991. In addition, he was awarded the Grand Order of Mugunghawa (the highest order of the Republic of Korea) in 1984, Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG) (the highest order accorded to Foreign Dignitaries by the British Monarchy) in 1997, the World Health Organisation Health-for-All Gold Medal in 1998 and the Shield of Al-Azhar University of Cairo in 2002.
Sources from http://www.presidencymaldives.gov.mv/
Memory's will last forever
This picture is a memory of brutal killing in 20th September 2003 in Maafushi Jail by Maldives Militia.
