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Maldives tourism and social development hampered by government restrictions
by an Anonymous Author
December 2001

The President calls Maldives 'heaven on earth', and at first the country seemed immune to the negative reactions around the globe to the mass murder at the World Trade Centre.

A week after the attack, Tourism Ministry official Mr Ismail Firag gave a news conference confirming that Maldives tourism would not be affected by these activities, tourists will come and future looks bright he said. During this week the government also discussed extending tourism to other atolls and increasing government revenue.

Almost one month after the attack on WTC, the President of the Maldives addressed his nation on the Tourism Evening marked to celebrate World Tourism Day. It was held on 17 October 2001 though the Tourism day was 27 September.

'Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim said God will curse the islands if guest houses were built on the islands for western tourists'



Gayyoom was keen to state that Maldives economy, especially tourism, was suffering badly as the result of global turmoil. It had taken a month for him to realise that forecasted foreign currency would not be deposited in his accounts as he planned.

"It is the responsibility of all the Maldivians to work hard to overcome the slump we are facing in the Tourism industry," said Maumoon in his address. "It is not only a responsibility of the Tourism ministry or Industry. It is a responsibility of all Maldivians" he stressed.

He was quick to avoid his responsibility as a leader for building the Maldives economy on a sound base. His biased and discriminative policies deprive ordinary people of the Maldives of the possibility of stepping into the tourism industry. He bans guest-houses in local islands in the name of protecting Islam and social values.

When this issue was raised in the puppet parliament Mr Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim said God will curse the islands if guest houses were built on the islands for western tourists.


'Certainly no Maldivian should tolerate such an accusation especially from the head of state. But some ordinary citizens were gullible enough to swallow this baseless story because they are taught to obey the leader.'







But it was his regime that traded the very Maldivian way of life with a very alien culture of the Maldives for Arab culture. Gayyooms' policy of wiping the 2,500 year old culture in the Maldives has been successful since he came to power. His cabinet and closest allies, who are benefiting from the peaceful nature of ordinary Maldivians, are Arab wannabies. The past 28 years has witnessed the worst culture wipe out campaign with his one-way state-controlled media.

Maldivians are only taught to obey their leader, even if he asks them to commit suicide. The government is using Islam as a tool to suppress and terrorise the ordinary people of the islands.

The frequent victim of his terror gang is Malé Member of Parliament Mr Nasheed (Anni). Recently he was arrested and accused of stealing some items from a former president's residence which the current government has confiscated. This arrest was suspicious as Mr Nasheed was about to propose a bill to the Parliament relating to questioning of cabinet ministers. The irony is that Maldives' media with 101% government control will convince the ordinary people that their popular MP is a thief!

The real thieves, terrorists and murderers hide behind the veil of the government. In his Tourism Day speech Gayyoom also voiced one of his favourite pieces of propaganda saying that stability and peace are the major assets of our tourism industry, and that is what makes Maldives tourism sell well in the world. But no brochure or promotional material whether official or private has ever made this point when selling their package.

Maldives is famous because of its tropical climate, sandy beaches, crystal clear lagoons and breath-taking dive spots. So let's assume that the President is trying to make his usual point by referring stability and peace. Is stability and peace achieved by suppressing and terrorising citizens? Certainly not! So if the President thinks that he has achieved stability and peace and that's what makes the tourists come to Maldives then definitely he should be leading the Middle East peace efforts. Because he has created a model state where all its citizens are living in a stable and peaceful community.

Gayyoom on his speech further went on by making an obscure statement saying "when we take our work and our stories to outside world where we can't reach, the bitterness caused will be our pain". This remark was very vague, confusing some people.

Certainly no Maldivian should tolerate such an accusation especially from the head of state. But some ordinary citizens were gullible enough to swallow this baseless story because they are taught to obey the leader.

Many Maldivians understood he was referring to a wave of political awareness that has been supported by Maldivians who are embarking into a new dimension.

People who have experienced the freedom, with no oppression and not being watched, will understand how polluted the air in the Maldives is.

How many lies Mr Gayyoom has made! How many innocent and helpless people he has tortured! How many millions of dollars he has swallowed!

If Gayyoom is referring to the Internet, where all uncensored free thoughts are published, as the height beyond the reach of his dictatorial power then surely he is correct. He and his brother-in-law can't censor it. And it is beyond the reach of his NSS terror gang. The people who suffer will be those who have suffered for the past 25 years. The ordinary Maldivians!