MDP Rally - Journey to Justice!

17 & 18 February

Around 30,000 MDP protestors packed Raalhugan'du, a neighborhood area near to the Tsunami Memorial on Male’.  Events started around 4pm and are still ongoing more than 24 hours later.  The crowd was amped in support of restoring peace and democracy as well as holding elections prior to 2013. 

While there were serious concerns that this protest would be met by more police and MNDF brutality, enough People Power pressure has been generated to compel the baghee Police to announce this protest was “peaceful” and there would be no need for intervention.  (This is in part thanks to countless photos and videos circulating on social networks and independent news stations, which are still managing to get content out despite the Baghee government crackdown.) Although, this did not stop police from holding hundreds in dhonis from reaching Addu to join simultaneous MDP protests there. 

The excitement was palpable as thousands continued to pour into the protest well into the night.  They were decked out in red, green, white, and especially yellow, showing their support for the Nation and MDP.  The speed in which t-shirts printed with excellent slogans complemented the sea of banners and signs punctuating the crowd; “No Corruption in Court,” “Freedom is Our Birthright,” “Coup Kills,” “No Guns,” “No Private Business in Our Courts,” “Say No to Rebel Government,” “Vote Love Anni,” “Stop Beating Our Own People,” If It’s Not A Coup, What Is It?” “Stop Police Brutality,” “My Vote Grabbed,” “Fair Elections Now, No Excuse,” and perhaps the crowd favorite “Money Money, Yes Sir.” This last phrase has been chanted endlessly since the February 7^th coup, but there seems to be a shift in awareness by citizens that they truly do hold the power, because police all over Male’ are being shamed by passersby with this phrase.  While retaliation is a concern, there is no more fear among Maldivian MDP supporters of President Nasheed, because they know they are in the right and there is strength in numbers.   

Scores of protestors waved MDP and Maldivian flags, creating beautiful moving waves of color that rose and fell as supporters cheered on speakers.  The speeches continued well into the night, but some of the more potent points highlighted the need to improve the judiciary and electoral systems, that the coup did not represent the will of Maldivian people as it was carried out while most people were sleeping or at work. Another salient point was that when the police staged the coup, they were shouting “Allah Akbar” (God is great), but their Baghee supporters are the resort owners who sell pork and alcohol, which is incredibly ironic.  Not to mention, the statement “don't tell us what terrorism is, we’ve seen police and MNDF burning MNBC, that’s terrorism.”

The energy kept going strong with the well organized mix of music, boduberu (traditional drumming) and singing, inspiring speeches, poetry, and a video compilation of the Baghee police and MNDF brutality. When President Nasheed addressed the crowd Friday night, he asked whether people wanted to leave at the 12am curfew or stay? The resounding answer was to stay until an election date was set!  The overwhelming support for President Nasheed and the MDP is striking. Donations included mats for nearly 1/3 – if not more – of the crowd to sit on, endless water bottles, snacks, coffee, bondi baiy (sweet coconut rice) and fish curry.  Many protestors slept through the night, while the podium was opened to anyone who wished to speak.  Maldivian citizens made their voices heard and cheered in support of restoring democracy, human rights, and holding early elections could be heard all night.  By 4am people had begun to pitch tents and settle in for what could be a very long protest. 

President Nasheed addressed the diehard crowd around 6am Saturday and they showed no signs of waning. In fact, support has been bolstered by nearly 800 arrivals from the northern Atolls and 500 more from the south are on their way.  The protest has taken on a jovial atmosphere with many games being provided including pool, garlando football (aka foosball), table tennis, cards, and chess.  Saturday’s events even included face painting and a barbeque, while rock bands and other performances are also being held.  Rumors continue to circulate that police MDP supporters will also be joining the protest Saturday evening. (That would be a dramatic and important step for restoring trust and respect, considering they are seen as wholly illegitimate at this point.) Clearly, Maldivians are standing strong in the face of oppression and will continue to do so until their demands for a free and fair election are met and human rights protections are restored.     

Maldives Coup

16 February

People power, has created the necessary pressure caused Baghee Waheed announced possible new elections if they are “free and fair.” Before this takes place, thorough vetting and strengthening of Maldivian institutions – especially the election commission and judiciary – must occur!

President Nasheed met with legitimate (i.e. registered) civil society organizations today, February 16^th, to discuss the current situation. He stressed the need to remain politically neutral and that they cannot represent the citizenry, which is the role of political parties.  However, human rights do apply to everyone regardless of politics – they are fundamental to live a life of dignity and respect – therefore the function of civil society organizations is to conduct grassroots education, particularly in regard to human rights.  President Nasheed also discussed the need for “free and fair elections,” because a President should not come to office via a coup. 

Many civil society organizations present voiced their desire for a free and fair election to be held as soon as possible.  President Nasheed agreed and nothing is more important than restoring democracy and the rule of law in the Maldives.

Furthermore, President Nasheed discussed the need for an international and impartial investigation, but that national interests are preventing that from occurring. Specifically, the U.S., India, and China are not pushing for the restoration of human rights and democracy. They lack outrage at the current coup, because there is not widespread killing or graphic violence in the streets (i.e. blood) commonly seen in coups staged in the Middle East and Africa.

These international and regional powers are failing to grasp the contextual nuances of the situation. With a population of approximately 350,000, there are deep interconnections between the populous; everyone basically knows everyone else to a degree, given large family sizes and interconnections through marriage, friendship, and work. Accountability is also maintained through the peaceful pervasion of Islamic practice in daily life. Therefore, horrendous acts of violence, even “petty” crimes are rare in the Maldives. 

Thus, while stereotypical images of coup violence have not permeated through the international media (also a symptom of the baghee government seizing control of media outlets) that does not mean Maldivian society has not been shaken to its core. The police and MNDF brutality against countless citizens as well as the swift unraveling of democracy, in part thanks to corrupt business interests permeating government institutions, must be reversed if justice, human rights, and democracy are to be restored.  

President Nasheed is therefore calling for an international investigation given the deep-rooted unethical behavior of countless government officials and institutions.  (The suggested Police Integrity Commission cannot even approximate the impartiality needed to properly vet themselves, considering they staged the coup.) Unfortunately, given the power that the U.S., China, and India possess in the UN Security Council, it is unlikely enough international pressure can be generated and resources leveraged to properly investigate, vet, and monitor legitimate elections before 2013.  These nations must put aside their national interests in favor of supporting the restoration of human rights and democracy in the Maldives for the UN to take swift supportive action.

Thursday evening human rights and democracy supporters staged a “No peace without justice ” protest today to emphasize the need for a legitimate government and that police and MNDF violence against citizens will continue in its absence.  Thousands were in attendance, wearing white in solidarity for peace to be restored in the wake of widespread police brutality. 

Maldives Coup

15 February

A Maldivian female civilian protestor died in Sri Lanka Wednesday, while being treated for injuries inflicted by the police.  

In an interview with BBC Today Radio Program Wednesday morning, Baghee Waheed claimed that President Nasheed resigned, because there was no support for him. This statement is clearly false given the thousands of protestors who have stood up for Anni, the MDP, democracy and human rights, despite the extreme violence they have endured by police and the MNDF. By Wednesday evening’s press conference, when a journalist asked Baghee Waheed if his statement was the truth he replied, “right now I don't want to answer the question.”  He also refused to answer questions about the newly appointed Vice President, Waheedhudheen. It is no wonder MDP supporters sing “Waheed come and Waheed go…” referring to his inconsistencies.

Perhaps the reason he is refusing to discuss Waheedhudheen is because he is a resort owner, who’s staff consist of staff former MNDF who served under Gayoom’s 30 year dictatorship. Additionally, Gayoom appointed Waheedhudheen to the first Human Rights Commission of the Maldives in order to assist in covering up the 12 August 2004 Black Friday tragedy. (On this day the National Security Service (NSS) – the precursor to the MNDF and Police Services – gunned down Mafushi jail inmates, many injuring many and killing one person.)

Additionally, rumors abound that Police Services and MNDF supporters of the MDP are preparing petitions against baghee Waheed and his illegitimate government.  It will be interesting to see whether this comes to fruition and if these supporters choose to protect civilians during Friday’s scheduled protest.  

Maldives Coup

12 February 2012

Waheed appointed new cabinet Ministers today, none of which represented the MDP. This is in stark contrast to President Nasheed, who created a coalition government with representatives from each party following his legitimate election in 2008. However, in all fairness, the MDP is not cooperating with this baghee government given their brutality, which has created no space for cooperative dialogue.  The latest accounts from Addu are of police unlawfully entering MDP supporters’ homes, stripping both men and women and coating them with pepper spray prior to arrest.  There are unconfirmed reports of directly applying pepper spray to genitalia.  

In protest to the corruption that abounds in the baghee government – ruled and funded by Gayoom supporters – thousands of protestors laid Maldivian Rufiya and U.S. dollars on the street in front of police blocking the People’s Majilis Sunday evening.  Rumors of this deep-seeded fraudulence abound; photos circulated on Facebook today showing the MNDF planting alcohol in President Nasheed’s residence in an effort to discredit him.    More evidence is mounting daily – thanks to social networks – of the deeply disturbing plot to forcefully oust President Nasheed from office and weaken his popularity among the people.

Maldives Coup

11 February

Despite Waheed’s announcement that he will not hold elections prior to 2013, the events of Saturday, February 11^th, were relatively calm in comparison to previous days since the coup.  The baghee government seems unlikely to arrest President Nasheed, despite the Criminal Court issued warrant.  Perhaps this is due to external pressure coming from the MDP as well as the international community, generated by President Nasheed’s press conference, held Thursday February 9^th. 

Unfortunately, the U.S. endorsement to delay elections until 2013, given a lack of capacity within the current government to conduct “free and fair” elections will make demands by President Nasheed and MDP supporters much more difficult to bring to fruition.  Although the baghee government supporters in the People’s Majilis do not have 2/3 majority to change the Maldivian Constitution to do away with elections all together, delaying a year and nine months will allow human rights abuses to continue unchecked and cause tensions within the Maldives to escalate further.