Haahoora     |     home

Naushad arrest exposes petty paranoia of the Gayyoom regime
City of Malé
Maldives January 2002


Malé artist and graphic designer Naushad Waheed has now been under police detention for over a month. His family is worried sick.

The Gayyoom regime's rigid adherence to a campaign of suppressing freedom of expression is destroying the fabric of Maldivian society. While there is so much violence and uncertainty around them, in South Asia, Maldivians need this time to tap their collective strengths and weaknesses to forge ahead a viable future and a stronger economy.

But the continuation of Gayyoom's warped dream, to create his own version of an Islamic theocracy in this scattered state of islanders, is killing creativity. His total control of the national media and the pulpit is suffocating the island spirit of natural harmony and peace. His self-rule is destroying the minds of both the old and the young. Religion is being distorted and used as the main tool of propaganda and oppression. It is arresting further development in a country that needs to go a long way before they can claim to be a world-class society and a compassionate one.
'On the 9th December 2001, 9.30 p.m local time, Naushad Waheed, a prominent artist was arrested and taken away to the NSS along with his PC. Soon after, a change of clothes, etc. were taken in as well, reflecting to the public yet another violent reaction by the authorities to the Sandhaanu affair.

A group of students returning to Malé from Malaysia were allegedly arrested and detained by NSS on or around the same day that Anni left Malé [Anni is the nickname of politician and writer Mohamed Nasheed who has been sentenced to two and a half years exile for bogus 'theft' offences].

Anyway, this is going to go on presumably until the authorities detain and harass all those who helped Anni to run his election campaign. Among those pretty well marked are Mohamed Latheef, a former MP for Gaaf Dhaal Atoll, Umaru Jamal, 'Addu' Shareef, Hussain Afeef to mention a few. Ahmed Zahir who was quite active in the Anni campaign also got dragged in. He was later released.'



With corruption at endemic levels - an indirect effect of the once booming tourist industry - the current political situation has become quite explosive. Violent uprisings in the far away atolls are never reported in the national media. The underground focus on recent happenings in Naifaru Island (Lhaviyani Atoll), Rasgetheemu Island (Raa Atoll) and Laamu Atoll reveal just the tip of the iceberg, according to local observers.

Their former colonial master Great Britain is being tight-lipped and politically correct. For purely economic reasons and the 'non-existent status' of the Maldives in international game plans induce Europeans as well as Americans to keep this community hidden behind an exotic-flavoured brand name. This is the perfect holiday destination for tired Euro-elites.

Direct and indirect investment in the Maldives has also motivated the British to help train and arm President Gayyoom's bodyguards and his paramilitary force. In the aftermath of September 11, the US has upped the ante by tucking Maldives under their protective umbrella. Pakistan being the coveted one, Maldivians have been choreographed into following the established order in the region. While SAARC is expected to fight against terrorism of all guises, its leaders are legitimizing their dictatorial colourings with the willing assistance of the International Alliance.
Naushad Waheed with his son Nabeeh
Consider one of Gayyoom's latest unlawful arrest cases. It is now a little over a month since artist Naushad Waheed was taken away, along with his computer system, by the National Security Service. His wife and family are helplessly wondering what has become of their beloved.

No official media has confirmed or denied Naushad's arrest, detainment, continuing interrogation or his condition after his arrest, or his whereabouts for that matter. True to form, spin-doctors in the President's Office and the Ministry of Defense and National Security spread rumours and disinformation, alleging that Naushad is a suspect in an ongoing criminal investigation. This refers to the hunt to nail the architects of the underground paper Sandhaanu. Other rumours originating from the establishment claim to connect some unnamed Maldivian students studying abroad in Malaysia and Australia, apparently involved in publishing subversive material online.
'A source disclosed that two students, one arriving from Australia and the other from Malaysia were arrested and detained. This source also revealed that two groups of undercover police had been working in both countries lately, gathering evidence by cultivating student bodies.

Apparently, the student from Australia had been interrogated regarding the maldivesculture.com activities. And, he had mentioned Naushad Waheed in a confession. Contrary to earlier reports, the Maldivian government is highly engaged in trapping and arresting all those they think are passing information to this site.'



And the story goes on to implicate Naushad in some imaginary anti-government operation. In the capital Male' highly trained lawyers simultaneously work for the government and do private practice. None of these lawyers dare represent Naushad or his family. Their status and lifestyle would be threatened if they got involved in defending anyone arrested by President Gayyoom. So the families of people arrested for political reasons often have no access to legal aid. These distressed families and those who oppose this regime are left with no recourse to social justice.

While Mr. Gayyoom is moralising at world summits and traveling to other capitals in search of more foreign aid to buttress his own future and the continuation of his autocratic rule, a whole community is left dangling in the face of South Asian geopolitical upheavals. More often it is the dictator's theatrical double acts that the national, regional and international news groups cover. Added to this, the current interests of British and US leaders in the subcontinent have creepily relegated the Maldives into a grey corner. The communal suffering that is allowed to continue under this megalomaniac is somehow beyond the radar screens of the International Community.
'Recently arrested students from Australia and NZ are reported to have been released, in the aftermath of Naushad Waheed's arrest and detention. No details regarding Naushad's treatment available, as his immediate family is also clueless.

The usual rumour mongering conducted by the authorities link Waheed to Sandhaanu, the underground paper.This could be a ploy to pacify a restless public, at the same time an activity within the task of apprehending those responsible for the publication and mailing of this 'offensive rag'.

WTO/UNEP is scheduled to meet in Maldives as part of their activities to promote the 'sustainable ecotourism' platform. [Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Sustainable Development of Ecotourism / International Year Ecotourism 2002 Maldives, 11-13 February 2002. Source: WTO Newsroom].

Current occupancy figures in the luxury resort cluster are quite discouraging. Projections for Summer 2002 are poor. As the local economic infrastructure is not plugged in to the global system, it is extremely difficult to make long-term forecasts. Even before 9/11, the government financial and monetary organs were fighting against a worsening economy. Political unrest was already in progress. For all these reasons, the govt. was depending heavily on those resort property owners and western European tour operators for their foreign currency needs. Then came September 11th.

A whole month of re-orientation came to an end with Fitr Eid at the end of Ramadan. Towards the very end, unscripted outbursts were seen on TV Maldives, where the President got up and heavily responded to a keynote speech given by the chief religious cleric, Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim.

Observers immediately pronounced that the underlying rifts that exist with the Cabinet were somehow coming to the public arena. Again, cynics believe this to be the media antics of a crazed administration to keep the public engaged in trivial pursuits. This re-orientation refers to the government's attempts to whitewash their links with Islamic extremist factions in the Arab world. It also refers to the cozying relations with the US in order to escape being labeled as a country harbouring or helping terrorists. The President has taken a keen interest in assuring both the local and international audiences that his form of Islamic governance is middle of the road.

It looks like a no-win situation for the authorities though, as endemic corruption has also given birth to factionalism within the politico-military establishment. According to a senior Military officer, who prefers anonymity, the stifling system of hierarchy is making young officers frustrated with the old order. Details of most such factional fights are evidently not for public consumption.

A wave of high-rise constructions have been in progress in spite of the current economic recession. All of these are multistoried luxury properties built for the members of the Cabinet and key supporters, relations and cronies of the President. This project is directly financed by the Treasury.

The opening of the brand new Presidential complex has become imminent, as last minute construction and decoration work is being carried out. Meanwhile, the Office of the President has reportedly upgraded their own staff, inventing more positions and inviting new blood into the bureaucracy.



Under the guise of moving in the tracks of world leaders in fighting terrorism, the Gayyoom regime is conducting a most vicious and diabolical campaign. They are engaged in draining the perceived swamp of political dissent in preparation for the 2003 Presidential Elections. Their whole aim of governance is to silence the popular desire of Maldivians to become a free community living a productive life.

'Who cares about the current wave of disappearances, unlawful arrests and police brutality in the Maldives?' complained a grieving spouse. In spite of the continuing efforts of international bodies monitoring human rights abuse in the Maldives, such as Amnesty International, visiting diplomats and foreign emissaries to the Maldives remain aloof and non-committal. It is a game of commissions and favours behind closed doors. Yet one must not forget that these 'stuffed suits peddling diplomacy' are using taxpayer-Dollars, and playing their own power games, enriching themselves in the process.