Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04COLOMBO257
2004-02-17 10:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

Maldivian government cracks down on opposition;

Tags:  PGOV PINS PHUM PINR CASC MV 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000257 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, DRL/CRA, INR/NESA, DS
NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02-17-14
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR CASC MV
SUBJECT: Maldivian government cracks down on opposition;
8 arrested, but unofficial total could be larger

Refs: (A) FBIS Reston Va DTG140332Z Feb 04
- (B) Colombo 248, and previous

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b, d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000257

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, DRL/CRA, INR/NESA, DS
NSC FOR E. MILLARD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02-17-14
TAGS: PGOV PINS PHUM PINR CASC MALDIVES'>MV
SUBJECT: Maldivian government cracks down on opposition;
8 arrested, but unofficial total could be larger

Refs: (A) FBIS Reston Va DTG140332Z Feb 04
- (B) Colombo 248, and previous

(U) Classified by James F. Entwistle, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b, d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Maldivian government has confirmed
that it arrested eight people on February 13 and has
indicated that it will charge them with planning an
illegal demonstration, among other items. There are
reports that an additional 10-25 people may also have
been detained on trumped up "petty crime" charges.
There have been no reports of violence and the MALDIVES
is reportedly quiet with a heightened police presence in
Male'. The GoRM's actions were clearly an attempt to
quash opposition elements that have been ratcheting up
the pressure on President Gayoom's regime in recent
months. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) GORM LAUNCHES CRACKDOWN: The Maldivian
government has confirmed that it arrested eight people
on February 13. No violence was reported. The GoRM
asserted that the eight had been "conspiring to conduct
illegal activities," according to the government-owned
news website "Haveeru." Other sources have indicated
that the number of those arrested may be higher. On its
website, for example, the opposition Maldivian
Democratic Party (MDP) asserted that 10 people had been
arrested and another MDP contact told us 70. Amnesty
International, in the meantime, has estimated that up to
20 had been detained (see Ref A). In a February 17
conversation with polchief, Minh Pham, UNDP Resident
Representative for the MALDIVES (Amcit -- strictly
protect),confirmed the 8 official arrests, but added
that he had heard that an additional 20-25 people may
also have been detained. He said many of those detained
were being held on trumped up "petty crime" charges.
Pham confirmed press reports that one of the eight
officially under arrest was Jennifer Latheef, MDP co-
founder Mohamed Latheef's daughter. Pham said he had
heard that she would be charged with "terrorist-related

offenses."


3. (C) The arrests were clearly timed to prevent an
anti-Gayoom demonstration that had been tentatively
scheduled for February 12 or 14 on the capital island of
Male' (see Ref B). The GoRM's actions were successful
and the demonstration, in the end, did not take place.
Explaining the government's position, Home Minister
Ismail Shafeeu said on Maldivian television late
February 13 that Male' residents had been "unsettled"
because people had been distributing leaflets and
materials. He added that "activities carried out in the
name of an illegitimate organization will not be
permitted in MALDIVES." (Note: Shafeeu was clearly
referring to the MDP. The GoRM does not recognize any
political parties and the MDP is illegal in the
MALDIVES.)


4. (C) OPPOSITION RESPONSE: The MDP reacted speedily
to the arrests, terming them "arbitrary" and the "latest
horrendous crime against humanity committed by President
Gayoom and his police thugs," according to its website.
Noting that the arrests came immediately following the
group's February 12 election of MDP "governing council"
members (see Ref B),the website claimed that the GoRM's
moves were a targeted attack on the MDP, and family
members of MDP co-founders Mohamed Latheef and Mohamed
Nasheed. The website added that the planned
demonstration was to be a peaceful one in which
protestors delivered a letter to President Gayoom
informing him of the party's formation and recommending
measures for the promotion of human rights.


5. (C) In a February 17 conversation with poloff,
Latheef -- who is now based in Colombo -- sounded quite
distraught about the recent events, describing the
Maldivian political situation as "terrible and getting
worse." He said the GoRM had only arrested his daughter
to get at him. He asserted that the "terrorist-related"
charges against her -- which apparently stemmed from her
alleged involvement in September 2003 violence in Male'
(see Ref B) -- were completely fabricated. (According
to Latheef, his daughter had studied civil rights in the
U.S., and had been engaged in trying to prevent police
violence in the MALDIVES and nothing more.)


6. (C) Regarding the current situation, Latheef thought
that the crackdown had been spurred on by recent anti-
Gayoom unrest in the National Security Service (NSS --
the Maldivian military and police force). In an effort
to maintain control and gain back NSS confidence, Gayoom
had reinstated two NSS officers who had been removed
from the organization due to allegations of torture
linked to the September 2003 violence. With the NSS now
in his pocket, Latheef averred, Gayoom was running the
country as "a military state," and flaunting the
Maldivian Constitution and the rule of law. He called
for the international community to take an active
interest in the situation and pressure Gayoom to release
those arrested.


7. (C) SITUATION CALM (FOR NOW): Following the
February 13 arrests, Male' and the rest of the MALDIVES
are reportedly quiet. On February 17, Pham related that
Male' residents seemed subdued and he added that there
was a heavy police presence. Pham indicated, however,
that there were unconfirmed reports of tension at the
main prison on Maafushi island (near Male'). He had
heard, for example, that some prisoners there were
threatening to commit suicide to protest the February 13
arrests. (The Maafushi prison was the site of the
violence that triggered the September riots in Male'.)


8. (C) COMMENT: As flagged in Ref B, opposition
elements have been ratcheting up the pressure on
President Gayoom's regime in recent months. Former
ministers have reportedly joined the MDP, for example,
and the group was becoming increasingly active both
inside and outside the MALDIVES. The final straw for
Gayoom was clearly the opposition's plans to hold a
public demonstration in Male'. It is highly unlikely,
however, that the GoRM's February 13 moves to quash the
opposition will be the last word in the matter. The
anti-Gayoom opposition seems to be real -- and not
ephemeral, with many Maldivians feeling that the country
needs more political openness after 25 years of one-man
rule by Gayoom. Given the government's hard-line
response, it seems that the MALDIVES might be in for the
classic tussle of escalating reactions/counter-reactions
between an entrenched government versus a rising
opposition. END COMMENT.


9. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD