8 February 2012
From calm to chaos
Tuesday’s shock and disbelief among MDP supporters has been
replaced by action. It was the calm
before the storm. Maldivian citizens gathered in force for the MDP press
conference attended by leading MDP members of parliament, activists, and
supporters. The atmosphere was supercharged with hope and outrage; rallying
cries abounded for the restoration of democracy, rule of law, and President
Nasheed.
Following the MDP press conference held at Dharubaaruge (the
convention center), hundreds of supporters marched first to the MDP gathering
area destroyed Tuesday by police and military forces, and then were joined by
between 8 and 15 thousand MDP protesters near Republic Square. The MDP
protestors endured brutal and excessive violence by the MNDF and police.
Footage from Haveeru News, SunFM, and Rajje TV showed the energized but
non-violent crowd being bombarded with tear gas and pepper spray, followed by
the MNDF charging the crowd and assaulting protestors with batons.
Prominent MDP leaders, including President Nasheed, Maria,
Eva Abdulla, Moosa Manik (aka Reeko) and Alham Fahumy, were beaten. It remains
unclear whether they have been detained, given the government crackdown on news
outlets, however the Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest as of Thursday,
February 9th. The current MDP Chairman Reeko was in critical
condition while countless others have been severely hurt. Reeko has since been
moved to Singapore for treatment. In his interview to Rajje TV he reported
being cracked on the head and back by many police officers, as well as hit
twice in his groin. The exact number of injuries and fatalities is unclear at
this time because the police are in control of both Indhira Gandhi Memorial
Hospital and ADK Hospital.
Protests have continued into Wednesday night, while tear gas
and pepper spray hung in the air, wafting though Male’. The question of when
and how the MDP will respond has clearly been answered – People Power!
All across Maldivian Atolls, the citizenry has come out in
force in support of President Nasheed and the MDP. They are not standing for
this coup and are voicing their outrage at the undemocratic usurping of power
by Waheed and the opposition supporters. The Haveeru News Twitter link has
countless reports of police stations and training facilities as well as
government offices being burned. In the
south on Hoadedhdhoo in Huvadhoo Atoll, Horizon Fisheries – owned by Gasim –
was set on fire. Gas cylinders were exploding like bombs, shaking the earth.
“It sounds like a war zone,” reported one resident. While in Addu, Fuahmulah,
and Thinadhoo the police station and court have been burned. The situation in
the north is similar. MDP supporters are running around Baa Atoll, clearly in
control. In Raa Atoll, police officers were stripped of their uniforms and sent
home, before the station was set alight. While MDP activists in Thaa Atoll have
forced police from their stations.
Clearly the MDP holds sway among the people, particularly
with the youth who comprise approximately a third of the Maldives’ population.
Enjoyments of social protections enacted by President Nasheed have not been
forgotten, and the MDP is not giving up their recent ability to express their
civil rights. Maldivians are standing up for their human rights and are not
ceding them to another dictatorship. The voice of the people is that they will
not stand for rule by autocrats, a military junta or extremists.
Waheed’s government is trying to maintain their usurped
power, but the mass support shown nationwide Wednesday is not making that
easy. Waheed’s government has cut the
live feed from Rajjee TV in Male’, one of the only independently controlled
media outlets. Additionally, Waheed has appointed Dr. Mohammed Jameel (Vice
President of DQP), a Gayoom supporter, the Minister of Home Affairs, while
former Colonel (under Gayoom) Mohammed Naazim has been appointed Defense
Minister. The events of the past 2 days
demonstrate Waheed in league with Gayoom. The question remains as to whether he
is seeking dictatorial power himself, or is opening the door for Gayoom’s
return?
Social networks have played a vital role in the MDP’s
uprising. Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, in
addition to similar Internet resources and innumerable phone calls between
Male’ and the Atolls are the primary forms of communication among MDP
supporters. They are providing a vital
service in the face of severe news media suppression by Waheed’s opposition
government.
During Wednesday’s MDP press conference, their Qaumee
Majilis (national council), which President Nasheed’s cabinet was unanimously
elected, made their message clear. According the Maldivian constitution, President
Nasheed is still legally the head of the MDP and President, given that the
proper procedure for his resignation was not followed. President Nasheed has
reported being forced to write and sign his letter of resignation under
gunpoint at the Defense Ministry, which he handed over to his legal secretary,
but was forcefully taken by the MNDF to the People’s Majilis.
Cheers resonated throughout Dharubaaruge as the MDP expelled
rumors that they are leaving country. They also reported that Waheed has not
discussed anything with MDP’s president or leaders. VTV is being edited to
suppress true accounts of the coup. The MDP is filing a case against Waheed’s
government and asserted that the Majilis should find this government has not
been formed according to the Constitution. The MDP will continue to fight for
constitutional rights and work with the Maldivian people to bring down Waheed’s
current illegitimate government. These statements were met with roars of
approval and applause from the crowd.
President Nasheed vowed he, “will never let down
constitution until the blood stops flowing from his body.” He also extorted that he will still fulfill
his 5 campaign pledges to improve the quality of life for Maldivian people:
national transportation, housing, drug prevention, national healthcare, and
economic reforms to decrease cost of living.
Another MDP protest was announced for Feb. 17th.
The situation is sure to escalate as MDP advocates nationwide unite in the face
of violent oppression. Relative calm has been restored Thursday, in part due to
the rain which is “washing the blood from the streets,” remarked an MDP
supporter. While violent clashes between MDP protestors and the opposition
government police and military are a possibility, President Nasheed has called
for no violent action against the current government, “no one should take
initiative unless the MDP calls for it.”
His statements to the electrified crowd highlight the
importance of non-violence in the face of abuse and oppression. The more the
police and MNDF violently oppress the MDP, the more they should respond with peaceful
protest. To do otherwise delegitimizes their protests against the coup, as well
as the human rights abuses committed by the government, police and military in
their disproportionate response to the rights protected under the Maldivian
constitution free speech and assembly.
Given the overwhelming numbers of MDP supporters, the
opposition protestors (PPM, DRP, JP, AP and DQP) have not been seen. However, religious extremists have destroyed
ancient Buddhist relics in the National Museum and ordered other’s covered. As
one Maldivian asserted, “there is no sense of destroying it because no one
worships it. It is just a part of our ancient history.” Waheed’s supporters are
trying to “manipulate the minds of Maldivians” to not stand up for their
constitutionally protected fundamental human rights.
Furthermore, the small factions of MDP supporters in the
MNDF and Police have not yet come forward to protect the people. It remains to
be seen if they will choose to disobey the commands of their senior officers
and instead protect democracy and the Maldivian people.
There is an interesting interpersonal dimension to the
violent oppression by the MNDF and Police, as well as the burning of Police
headquarters’ – but few actual violent attacks on these individuals – in the
Atolls by MDP protestors. The population is so small and interconnected,
physical violence against anyone has a dramatic impact on the intimate
relationships between families, friends, and communities. A striking example of
this was witnessing the mutual salute, handshake and then debate between a
Police officer, an MNDF MDP supporter, and their friends immediately following
Tuesday’s police attack on the MNDF and MDP protestors.
While the atmosphere remains calm for the time being in
Male’, rule of law has been dramatically eroded. Waheed’s attempts to display
his force of power are piecemeal at best, as seen by the roadblocks throughout
Male’ and police patrolling the streets, and the refusal of recently appointed
Ministers to address political questions during a press conference early
Thursday afternoon. Additionally, the Commissioner of Police announced Thursday
that those who burned almost every police station in the Atolls will be
“brought to justice…he’ll make people afraid of police authority, and no one should
behave outside the law.”
The Maldives Human Rights Commission has condemned the
police violence against protestors and the transition of power from President
Nasheed to Waheed and is launching an investigation.
As of 10pm Wednesday night, 49 MDP protestors had been
arrested, although it is speculated that 30 have been released.
Whether democracy and rule of law can be restored remains to
be seen, however given the huge numbers of MDP supporters throughout the
country with the intention to protect human rights and restore democracy, it is
only a matter of time before the country is retaken by People Power!
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