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| Wednesday, 15 October 2003 |
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by Special Correspondent Everything has returned to normal in the Indian Ocean archipelago of the Maldives after news of the death of a prisoner on an island near the capital, led to vandalism of police property and few other public buildings by a mob of hardened ex-convicts and a few of their associates on September 20. The mobs went about destroying traffic lights and other public Property for about 90 minutes in the streets of Male', while the funeral of the prisoner was taking place in another part of the town. The funeral was conducted peacefully despite the attendance of huge crowds comprising relatives, friends and well-wishers. President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, himself had visited the cemetery packed with mourners, and personally conveyed his condolences to the bereaved parents. He vowed that justice would be done. He did not require extra security, and there was no trouble there. However, the news of the death had sparked off a riot in the prison where the inmate had been incarcerated. The prison riot led to a mass breakout from the cells and an assault on the prison armoury, resulting in a shooting incident. Three prisoners were seriously wounded and have subsequently died of their injuries. In Male', despite intense provocation by the unruly gangs which brutally beat unarmed policemen, the police exercised great restraint, using only water cannon which proved ineffective, as crowds stormed through the streets. By nightfall, the President addressed the nation by TV and radio, appealing for calm, requesting people to return to their homes and warning that action will be taken to restore law and order. Most people heeded the warning while tear gas had to be used to disperse the diehard elements. A police advisory banning loitering in the streets from late night to dawn was announced, but nearly an hour before it went into effect, quiet had returned to town. Although schools remained closed the following Sunday, all government offices were opened, and schools reopened on Monday. The late night advisory is now only on assembling in the streets after midnight, and everything has returned to normal. That everything has returned to normal was proved by the carrying out of the election process on schedule, whereby, the whole parliament rallied behind the President when he was voted ahead of three other candidates for the candidate endorsed by the parliament for the public vote. All fifty members were present, and all voted for President Gayoom, indicating that the nation was rallying behind the President in an hour of national mourning. It will be some time before the psychological effects of the events of 20 September wear off, or they may never. But that healing process has already started with an independent Presidential Commission mandated to make a full inquiry into the death and the shooting incident at the prison. Regrettably, the three critically injured persons have passed away in the four days that followed, but people are awaiting the results of the inquiry, and are satisfied that the government is taking swift measures to remedy the situation. Already, a number of persons guarding the prison have been arrested. The President also pledged that action will be taken against those who vandalised buildings and attacked public property. However, as a safeguard of the rights of the people who are being questioned over these attacks, the investigations of these people are to be carried out in premises other than those of the police or the Ministry of Defence and National Security, and are being conducted in the presence of members of parliament. The Maldives values law and order, and it appears that law and order and rule of law will emerge stronger than before, as a result of the tragedies. The Commission is mandated to make recommendations on how such tragedies can be averted. As before, the Maldives is likely to use these tragic events to consolidate democratic governance in the country, Whatever scars that remain, the important thing would be to ensure that they belong to the past and that they cannot recur again. The Government appears genuinely committed to institute the necessary reforms to protect the human rights of the people. The President, who will stand before a public referendum on October 17th, as part of the presidential election which is due every five years, is expected to win it and his policy programme for the next five years is expected to include such safeguards. Sources say that the detailed plans outlined in the sectoral perspectives for achieving Vision 2020, published less than a year ago, contains policies that will be emphasised in the next few years. Meanwhile, the Cabinet endorsed on Thursday the President's call for concerted national campaign to root out the menace of drugs. The most pressing social concern in the country is the abuse of drugs which are imported into the archipelago of over 1200 islands. Maldivians say that the drugs all come from abroad, and that harsh penalties should be imposed on drug trafficking. Already, countries like Sri Lanka are co-operating in stemming the drug trade. A sniffer dog programme has been established under which Sri Lanka donates two sniffer dogs and dog handlers to work in airport in the Maldives. This programme is likely to be widened to cover other points of entry into the Maldives. The Maldives has a population of 285,000 people who are Sunni Muslims, and has the most dynamic economy and the highest per capita income in South Asia. Its main economic activities are tourism, fisheries and shipping. |
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