AI
Index: ASA 29/003/2004 (Public) News Service No: 031
13
February 2004
Maldives: Yet another crackdown on peaceful political activity
The
Government of Maldives carried out a wave of arrests of peaceful
political activists this morning ahead of a rally called by businessmen,
civil society groups and the opposition. This happened despite President
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's recent pledges of political reform and his
commitment to respect the right to freedom of expression.
"President Gayoom's promises of reforms to protect human
rights are in sharp contrast to the arrests made by the police this
morning," Amnesty International said today.
The rally planned for 14 February is to protest the
government's failure to curb a rising tide of criminal activity in the
country. One of the sponsors of the rally is the Maldivian Democratic
Party (MDP), which was recently formed in defiance of the government's
refusal to allow political parties to function. MDP supporters have
planned to carry a letter on a march from the parliament building to the
President's office, to inform the President of the formation of the
party and to recommend measures to strengthen the protection and
promotion of human rights.
The exact number of those detained is not known. Among those
arrested are the entire family of an MDP political activist, Ahmed Falah.
Police came to his house at around 3am this morning and said that they
had instructions to arrest his entire family. Ahmed Falah was not at
home and his family ran into the street to look for help. However, the
police caught Aishath Najib, his partner, and their two sons, Shafeen
Ahmed,18 and Habhin Ahmed,17. Aishath Najib was grabbed by several
police officers and thrown onto the rear deck of a police van.
Others arrested this morning include: Abdulla Najib, Nazim
Abdul Sattar, Mohamed Miyamon Naseem, Abdulla Saeed and Ali Hashim.
They have all been taken to Dhoonidhoo Detention Centre for
interrogation. The reason for their arrest is believed to be their
involvement in the election of the Governing Council of the MDP, which
took place some three hours before the riot police came to arrest them.
Among those detained are Governing Council members, as well as some
people who took part in the elections.
"We urge the government to act immediately to ensure that
none of the detainees are subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment," said Amnesty International. "We consider them
to be prisoners of conscience and we are calling for their immediate and
unconditional release."
"Our message to the government is clear: release these
detainees now; ensure their well-being while in custody; reform the laws
that allow the detention of prisoners of conscience; and ensure that no
such arrests take place in the future", continued Amnesty International.
According to a BBC report, the government has said "the
raids targeted burglary and traffic offences and only eight people were
held". To Amnesty International's knowledge, none of the prisoners
mentioned above are known to have been involved in "burglary" or
"traffic offences".
"These people have only been exercising their right to
freedom of expression in a peaceful manner. They were holding an
election to the Governing Council of their party. There is no
justification for arresting them."
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