MALDIVES: POLITICAL TURMOIL FOLLOWS PUBLIC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000635 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PHUM MV SUBJECT: MALDIVES: POLITICAL TURMOIL FOLLOWS PUBLIC SUSPICION OF A POSSIBLE CUSTODIAL DEATH ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The discovery of a dead body floating in a lagoon near Male' on April 15 led to political controversy, as the deceased's family and opposition charged the victim was killed in custody -- and government authorities denied it. A demonstration erupted outside the cemetery. Police reportedly used undue force to break up the crowd and arrested at least thirteen. The Ambassador wrote to Attorney General Hassan Saeed on April 19 to express hope that the victim's family's wishes would be respected and to note concern about the violence between police and protestors. The Maldivian government complied with the victim's family's request to facilitate an autopsy of the body in Sri Lanka. The medical examiner noted no visible signs of injury and concluded that death occurred by drowning. Maldivian government officials promptly issued press releases claiming they were exonerated of any wrongdoing. The Maldivian Attorney General's office reported these findings in a response to the Ambassador on April 24. Nevertheless, the family remained unsatisfied with the results, noting major discrepancies between Maldivian police's initial announcements and the Sri Lankan examiner's autopsy report. On April 28, the Maldivian government refused to grant the family's request for a burial in Colombo and shipped the body to Male'. The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs conducted the burial that same day; police broke up a crowd praying for the body at a mosque, and three journalists were arrested for trying to cover the burial. During the week of April 22, tensions between the government and opposition rose when several activists faced trial for having violated freedom of assembly regulations in 2006. Based on the current climate, the chances for cooperation between the estranged sides on constitutional reform seem to have receded. End summary. POLICE AND OPPOSITION CLASH NEAR CEMETERY -------------- ¶2. (U) According to local media, police reported the discovery of Hussain Salah's corpse floating in a lagoon early the morning of April 15. In keeping with local Islamic custom, authorities took the body to the cemetery for an immediate burial. However, Salah had been taken into police custody on April 9, and members of his family believed he may have been killed by security forces. The family insisted on an investigation, and a crowd gathered outside the cemetery. In dispersing the crowd, police used undue force, with ten officers reportedly targeting opposition chair Mohamed Nasheed, hitting him with batons and kicking him. One published photo showed a policeman punching Nasheed in the face. Police told the media they made thirteen arrests, while the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) said police arrested fifteen, including Nasheed. Several were released the following day, Nasheed among them. SUSPECTED CUSTODIAL DEATH -------------- ¶3. (U) Police reported that they released Salah from custody the evening of April 13. They said he died under unknown circumstances April 14. Salah's family asked why, if that were the case, he had failed to contact them on April 13. Police produced a document indicating Salah's release date, but the family demanded to see security camera footage of his release -- which police have not agreed to hand over. In addition, police initially said Salah suffered no injuries, but when pictures of the body circulating on the internet showed visible signs of injury, police said some damage ocurred as the body was being moved. On the local television news, police said Salah's body had breaks in the skull, including a fractured sinus bone. Salah's family, the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP),and many in the public were deeply suspicious of the circumstances surrounding Salah's death. The family called for an autopsy COLOMBO 00000635 002 OF 003 and went to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Male' to request assistance on the grounds that Maldives lacks the facilities to carry it out. Sri Lankan officials said they would have to cooperate with Maldivian authorities to transfer the body, and the family granted such permission. CONTROVERSIAL AUTOPSY RESULTS -------------- ¶4. (U) A Sri Lankan medical examiner conducted the autopsy on April 21, and published a brief set of findings concluding there were no signs of injury on the body and "sand in the lungs" indicated death by drowning. The Maldivian government immediately released public statements announcing they were fully exonerated of any wrongdoing. Foreign Minister Ahmed Shaheed sent poloff a text message to that effect. However, Salah's family told the press that when they arrived at the Maldivian High Commission in Colombo to receive the autopsy results, the envelope had already been opened. They rejected the findings, saying they may have been tampered with. ¶5. (SBU) Poloff spoke with family lawyer Mohamed Munnavar in Colombo on April 23. Munnavar said sixteen Maldivian police had flown with Salah's body, and the police spoke privately with the Sri Lankan medical officer at length before he conducted the autopsy. Munnavar said that Maldivians, coming from an atoll nation, are familiar with the physical indications of drowning, none of which (he said) Salah's body exhibited. Munnavar said the family had requested a return of the body, ostensibly to bury it immediately, but wanted to find a doctor to do an x-ray of the skull before-hand. Munnavar explained that if such a cursory check confirmed the initial Maldivian police report of head injuries in direct contradiction to the autopsy report, the Sri Lankan examiner's findings would be highly suspect. According to Munnavar, however, the Maldivian High Commission insisted on making burial arrangements, and denied the family custody of the body. FAMILY UNHAPPY WITH RESOLUTION; CONTINUED POLITICAL STRAINS -------------- ¶6. (U) In Maldives, the government convened a parliamentary group to investigate Salah's death. The Maldives Human Rights Commission urged a full investigation, but did not take up the task itself. On April 28, the Maldivian government shipped Salah's body back to Male', rejecting the family's request to bury him in Colombo. The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs took charge of the body and buried it in Male' because the family refused to be involved. The press reported that a group gathered to pray for the body at a mosque near the cemetery, and police disperesed the crowd and arrested three journalists attempting to cover the burial. The journalists, including one who works for a governement-run daily paper, were all released by the following day. In the meantime, the Maldivian government stepped up public criticism of the opposition, accusing the MDP of politicizing Salah's death. The government called on the opposition to shift the focus to constitutional reform. The opposition told the press the Maldivian government is merely trying to deflect attention from the Salah controversy. ¶7. (U) On April 25, a Maldivian court called four opposition activists to trial on charges of violating freedom of assembly in November 2006. On April 26, Aminath Najeeb, editor of the pro-opposition Minivan Daily, went to court to face "disobedience to order" charges for publishing an article quoting a source who sought to "destroy the court (system)." An article in the sister website, MinivanNews.com, noted that Najeeb has faced similar charges several times before, and ironically, may well be in prison COLOMBO 00000635 003 OF 003 on World Press Freedom Day, when Maldives will host an international event to celebrate free media. AMBASSADOR REGISTERS CONCERNS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) On April 19 the Ambassador wrote to Attorney General Hassan Saeed urging that Salah's family's wishes be respected, expressing concern about the reports of violence at the demonstration, and encouraging a return to dialogue between the government and opposition. An official from Saeed's office responded on April 24, noting the autopsy conducted on April 21 confirmed that Solah died by drowning. The e-mail also stated that while the government was willing to accept a Commonwealth initiative to hold talks outside of Maldives to discuss constitutional reform with the opposition, the MDP had yet to formally agree. ¶9. (SBU) COMMENT: The exact circumstances of Salah's death may remain an unsolved mystery. Given the short time between his supposed release and his demise, it is perhaps understandable that many were quick to believe the worst about the security forces. The heavy-handed response to the ensuing demonstration did nothing to allay suspicions. Severe government criticism of the MDP and the start of trials of prominent opposition members exacerbated tensions. The current climate is, unfortuanately, hardly conducive to reasoned discussion of constitutional reform. MOORE