Gayyoom is responsible for the systematic torture and killings in Maldives

Editorial
Gayyoom is responsible for the systematic torture and killings in Maldives

by A.S.I.Moosa (Sappe') - 27th February 2005

The definition says torture is considered systematic when it is "habitual, widespread and deliberate in at least a considerable part of the territory of the country" and when the existence of torture "may indicate a discrepancy between policy as determined by the centre and its implementation by the local administration".

According to this definition of 'Systematic Torture', it can be concluded that this term can also be used to define 'Torture in by the Police in Maldives'.

Many people have died in custody in Maldives and the police detain people arbitrarily. In almost all cases, mental and physical torture occurs. The case of Evan Naseem and what followed in September 2003 was not a mistake nor a one-off. It was an incident of a system that uses institutionalised torture to stay in power. It also marks the beginning of the emergence of a unified opposition and dissent against the tyranny in Maldives, the Worlds' Secret Dictatorship.

Gayyoom, as Commander in Chief and Defence Minister at the time, has to take full responsibility for the actions of his staff at National Security Service (NSS). Furthermore, from the statements of his deputy Anbaree Abdul Sattar, we now know that ultimately every order is generated from the very top, i.e. it comes from Gayyoom.

On September 20^th, 2003, Gayyoom addressed the nation and explained why the authorities had to take such a harsh action and shoot the inmates who protested against the brutal murder of Evan Naseem the night before. "Yes, inmates who were locked in different cells came out of the cells and attacked the Guards there and then they came towards the armoury and attacked the armoury and carried out these activities. Therefore, the government was obliged to take the necessary actions at the time. Yes, the Policemen there (those who were protecting the armoury) initially pleaded with them and warned them but when they did not retreat they fired into air (into air, into space, shooting into the horizon) and still could not control them so later they had to use firearms in a way that bullets would hit the bodies of some people" he said live on national TV and Radio that night when riots also broke out in Male' and people went on a rampage across the capital torching government buildings, including police stations and the Maldives High Court.

It is also now known that he knew about the incidents several hours before (Around 1pm that afternoon as confirmed by the statement of his State Ministers Mohamed Hussain and Deputy Defence Minister Anbaree A Sattar). Yet, in the state address he gave 7 hours after that incident, at 8 pm, he lied and tried to hide the truth. There was at least one person who was dead by a gun shot wound to the head – Abdulaa Ameen. Many people, including myself saw his dead body at least 2 hours before Gayyoom's state address in which he clearly said He then went onto say "With the mercy of Allah, no one was killed in today’s (20th September 2003) incident!". Statements from policemen and inmates in jail at the time now reveal that this was not the case, they (the rioting inmates) made no attempt to takeover the armoury but wanted answers from the Officer in Charge with regard to the brutal killing of their friend, Evan Naseem. Paradoxically and with absolute calm and tenacity, in the address to the Parliament whilst presenting his 'cut-down' version of the Commission Reports on 27 January 2004 (only 4 months after the incident), Gayyoom refuted his own statement of 20^th September 2003 regarding the specific order to use firearms and said that those policemen used firearms without any order and against the "On 20^th September (2003) the use of firearms in Maafushi Jail was totally in contradiction to the two rules, The Use of Firearms in an Emergency by the Police and Use of Firearms in Places Guarded with Armed Police. And, they did not get the proper permission from anyone nor did they inform any authority. We cannot believe!".

[Click here to stream the original video clips of these two addresses by Gayyoom or download file].

It is a fact that Gayyoom is fully aware that people are systematically tortured in his prisons. Many have come forward and testified. Amnesty International have documented these consistently for the last 14 years. Furthermore, many have written to him and lawmakers in Maldives, like Sandhaanu Luthfy, with minute details of the abuse and torture that takes place systematically whilst people are in custody and in prisons. Furthermore, Gayyoom himself had attended funerals of people who have died in jail under suspicious circumstances. In addition to that, Lieutenant Aswan, the deputy officer in charge at the prison in 2003, had submitted a detailed report on the kinds of systematic torture that goes on in the jail to his superiors more than 2 months before the September 2003 incidents. Also, the Department of Corrections have documented similar cases as well, yet nothing has been done about it. Had Gayyoom considered these complaints and reports, at least Evan Naseem and his friends would be alive today and there would have been no need to pass death sentences for dozens more for those crimes. Eight people have already been sentenced to death for the direct involvement in the killing of Evan Naseem and more are expected to be delivered on those who shot inmates to death the following day. These policemen will now become the victims of a rogue and brutal system developed and sustained by their own Commander.

So, the fact of the matter is that passing death sentences to the people who carried out the orders is not the solution. The solution is to bring the top criminals to account for their actions and these atrocities they have committed over the last 27 years. All this leads us to conclude that it is the systematic torture scheme devised and managed by Gayyoom that resulted in the brutal murder of Evan Naseem on 19^th September 2003. And, it was Gayoom who gave the order to shoot those who rioted in the jail the next day killing 4 unarmed inmates and injuring dozens. So, why shouldn't he be brought to justice?

Without a shadow of a doubt, the brunt of the responsibility for the deaths and torture in Maldives prisons lie with the evil dictator that is Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom. If anyone has to be sentenced to death by a court of law in Maldives, Gayyoom should be on top of the list and will be the easiest to convict, if rule of law takes superiority. Sadly, Gayyoom remains in power even today.

Systematic Torture or Not?

This barbarity must be stopped!

find out the truth