The authoritarian regime that ruled Maldives, a beautiful island nation with 320,000 people for 30 years, has wrestled its way back into power -- but not without major resistance from the people. Maldives had its first democratic elections in 2008, but a military backed coup forced President Nasheed from office in Feb. 2012. Since then, he has been arrested, sought refuge with the Indian government, been arrested again. Hundreds of people turn out for daily protests and they are summarily beaten, arrested and harassed. What are the Maldives people fighting for? Freedom of speech, end to police brutality, no Sharia, and a free and safe election this September. The Maldives police and military have been trained by UK law enforcement and US FBI to put down protests. My, this looks familiar! So far, other governments have expressed only "concern" and "puzzlement" over the situation in Maldives. Some of us have been following the situation since the coup last year and have found the Maldives activists to be open, hopeful and full of lulz. They are eager for some help getting the world to pay attention and apply pressure on this very corrupt regime that will take the country backwards 100 years.
Can't Edit OP, so reposting with new info TL;DR Maldives government has gone rogue, snorted a fat dose of Taliban Crazy, taking down pro-freedom Facebook pages, conducting violent mass arrests of pro-freedom demonstrators and its brutal police force has even put a TV reporter into hospital critical care. Anonymous is providing help to the population by spreading news, which is otherwise being under reported in mainstream media, and developing guides to help citizens using the Internet stay as safe as possible from state snooping. Background The authoritarian regime that ruled Maldives, a beautiful island nation with 320,000 people for 30 years, has wrestled its way back into power -- but not without major resistance from the people. Maldives had its first democratic elections in 2008, but a military backed coup forced President Nasheed from office in Feb. 2012. Since then, he has been arrested, sought refuge with the Indian government, been arrested again. Hundreds of people turn out for daily protests and they are summarily beaten, arrested and harassed. What are the Maldives people fighting for? Freedom of speech, end to police brutality, no Sharia, and a free and safe election this September. The Maldives police and military have been trained by UK law enforcement and US FBI to put down protests. My, this looks familiar! So far, other governments have expressed only "concern" and "puzzlement" over the situation in Maldives. Some of us have been following the situation since the coup last year and have found the Maldives activists to be open, hopeful and full of lulz. They are eager for some help getting the world to pay attention and apply pressure on this very corrupt regime that will take the country backwards 100 years. Recommended Readings Facebook Shuts Down Activists Page: http://minivannews.com/politics/fac...-government-protest-page-without-notice-54152 Maldives coup regime pretends to be WikiLeaks/Assange https://twitter.com/exposed_mv Something is basically wrong in Maldives http://www.ibrahimshoppe.com/something-is-basically-wrong-in-maldives/ Chinese tourists boycott Maldives resort amid claims of discrimination http://www.scmp.com/news/china/arti...tt-maldives-resort-amid-claims-discrimination Wave of mass arrests after Maldives ex-president detained http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\03\07\story_7-3-2013_pg14_5 India “monitoring”, UK “puzzled”, Canada “deeply concerned” by Nasheed arrest http://minivannews.com/politics/ind...nada-deeply-concerned-by-nasheed-arrest-54068 Twitter suspendsed activist who tweeted about boycotting supporters of military coup http://www.rightnow.io/breaking-news/maldives_bn_1331711430918.html Amnesty International: The arrest of former President an example of “selective justice” http://www.amnesty.org/en/for-media...esident-s-arrest-selective-justice-2013-03-05 The Maldives is a keg today http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...ivian-democratic-party-president-abdul-gayoom Analysis of the ongoing authoritarian reversal: http://www.dhivehisitee.com/ UK Foreign Office to “pressure” Maldives over tackling police abuses: http://minivannews.com/politics/uk-...ling-alleged-police-abuses-the-guardian-49289 Shocking images: http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/maldives coup Freedom Watch Maldives: http://fwmv.tumblr.com/ China establishes nuclear submarine base: http://articles.timesofindia.indiat...surveillance-systems-ins-tillanchang-maldives Avoid 'pro-coup’ resorts, tourists are asked: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/t...void-pro-coup-resorts-tourists-are-asked.html Democracy in peril, How can you help? http://www.friendsofmaldives.org/
Gasim Ibrahim is one of several local tycoons backing this return to Taliban style rape-friendly madness.
http://www.worldcrunch.com/maldives...-s-unprecedented-floating-trash-dump/c3s5165/ http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/planete/a...-bombe-toxique-des-maldives_1690857_3244.html
Greenpeace sez Maldives has world's most sustainable fishing practices. "I had arrived in the Maldives on the Rainbow Warrior to witness the world’s most sustainable fishing practice: pole and line. It’s a traditional fishing method, passed down through the generations, providing jobs and livelihoods for these small atolls with not many other forms of sustenance."
Wait. what?? @ShireenMazari1: "Amir Mir's int story in The News City pg revealing more US links to TTP in attacks ag Pak estab!"The Maldives-US link in ISI office attack"! https://twitter.com/ShireenMazari1/status/310246214954266624
For Chinese, Maldives Boycott Goes Beyond Instant Noodles ...also mad they are accused of cooking smelly things like crab, fish and other seafood in hotel rooms. Sounds like a tempest in a noodle kettle. "According to an account of the incident, posted on March 1 on the popular Chinese online forum Tianya and the Web site of a travel company, and quickly reposted to microblogs, a quip circulating among top management at the Beach House Iruveli also had Chinese guests designated as “CN” – not for China, but for “cup noodle,” Zhao Jianke and half a dozen other former employees wrote." http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com...tt-goes-beyond-instant-noodles/?smid=tw-share
Indian security agencies worried about China's cyberactivities in the Maldives http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ldivian-it-telecom-sectors/article4329846.ece
The term 'baagee' for 'traitor' has been added to the urban dictionary http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=baagee
“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall.” ― Jodi Picoult
Parliament could force journalists to reveal sources under new Privileges Act, warn police, MJA In a statement released on Sunday (March 10), the MJA claimed the legislation posed serious challenges for free and independent journalism. The association therefore urged parliament to “immediately” change the extra-constitutional clauses that it said compromised the rights and freedom given to journalists by the constitution. http://minivannews.com/politics/par...nder-new-privileges-act-warn-police-mja-54309
The International Federation of Journalists is expressing grave concern over a new act of parliament in the Maldives that will enable journalists to be 'compelled' to reveal their sources. The Maldives coup regime has a history of torture and recently a TV journalist was beaten so badly he is still in intensive care. http://www.neurope.eu/article/ifj-concerned-about-maldives-parliamentary-privileges-act
Excellent quick background video introducing the main characters. http://youtubeonrepeat.com/watch/?v=05IPozTuUpQ
India needs to help protect democracy in Maldives http://www.firstpost.com/world/india-needs-to-help-protect-democracy-in-maldives-656488.html
These are the Islamists that attacked a silent protest for freedom of religion a couple of years back This is one of the attackers, who has also attacked blogger Hilath Rasheed, with Salifist sheikh Shameem
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12653969 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21668176 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21595814
Maldivian journalists protests demanding press freedom and protection after RajjeTV’s senior journalist Asward was attacked. Maldives has had a bad record in press freedom and the attack is among one of the series of attacks by the public on media. Click link for more pictures. https://buggee.wordpress.com/2013/03/02/journalists-protest/
They even fear old historians. Ahmed Shafeeg, author of “A Day in the Life of Ahmed Shafeeg.” Ahmed Shafeeq is a prominent writer and a historian. He was held in solitary confinement from 21 April 1995 for 83 days without charge. http://www.miadhu.com/2012/06/local...rs-police-to-bring-shafeeg-to-court-hearings/
Practice ethical tourism https://cdn.anonfiles.com/1362901480744.pdf The coup tourism authority launched a "Sunny Side of Life" campaign (financed by coup-supporting resorts) but pro-democracy Maldivians showed how to hijack a hashtag and bring attention to human rights abuses.
Damn this shit is hardcore. ALL JUDICIARY DISMISSED http://www.ibrahimshoppe.com/judiciary-judges-and-constitution/
Elections Commission to respond after Supreme Court issues injunction on dissolution of parties The Political Parties Bill – ratified by President Mohamed Waheed on Tuesday (March 12) – states that parties must now meet a minimum of 10,000 members before they can be recognised as such. Following the bill’s approval by President Waheed, a total of 11 parties were removed of the EC’s political party registry, leaving five to compete in upcoming presidential elections later this year. Seem like the EC has little influence to fight this. President of the EC, Fuad Thaufeeq revealed that the commission would make a decision regarding what action would be taken in response to the Supreme Court’s order. “The commission will sit tomorrow (March 17) to discuss and decide on how we shall proceed. We have to respect and obey court orders,” Fuad told Minivan News via SMS. http://minivannews.com/politics/ele...es-injunction-on-dissolution-of-parties-54647
TeeHee. Politicians everywhere should be required to take IQ tests. @MickailNaseem MP Riyaz Rasheed calls on #Maldives regime to withdraw membership from EU. He does not realise we are not an EU member! #LADH
Former Maldives president: 'They have to finish me off for their coup to be successful' Nice Q&A with Foreign Policy. FP: In another recent interview you said, "Usually in a coup you kill the other man, but in this instance I remain an irritant to them." Does that imply that you fear for your safety? MN: There are always so many rumors going on in Male. Recently we've heard the that the Artur brothers from Armenia, who have a history in Kenya, have been in the Maldives. [The Artur brothers are alleged drug smugglers and hitmen from Armenia who have been implicated in a number of crimes in Kenya. Prime Minister Raila Odinga has accused them of a plot to assassinate him.] The police have commented on it and there's a very big scheme. There are all sorts of reports coming out related to these too people. There are always reports of murder attempts. Always reports of threats. FP: So why do you think it is that the government has allowed you to remain an "irritant," rather than detaining you or forcing you into exile? MN: They just couldn't! They've tried so many times. They tried a number of times and somehow every time they try to arrest me and test the waters, there's been a very big public outcry and outrage. So they just haven't been able to do that.
Public pressure forced them to send the hit men away! The President's Office: Maldives Press Statement on the Artur Brothers in the Maldives We would like to expand on the comments made today by President Waheed on the subject of the Artur brothers in the Maldives. The President was briefed in January that the Artur brothers were in the Maldives, had not broken any laws and were being monitored by the police as a precaution. The administration later decided to ask them to leave once their visa extension expired. The Artur brothers are no longer in the Maldives nor do they currently hold visas to return. The President, along with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Defence and National Security, and the Maldives Police Service are looking into any irregular dealings during the time the Artur brothers and their associates were here and will determine if there were any breaches in protocol or conduct that need to be addressed. Protecting our borders, our citizens and our guests is of utmost importance to the Waheed administration and we are taking this situation very seriously. --
Maldivians are fun. They totally get Anonymous and reached out to some of us about a year ago. After the Sun, the slimy state media organ, got caught publishing a Photoshopped picture of former prez Nasheed with one of the notorious Artur brothers (see above), MV artists responded within minutes. Here's the original pic and shoop. Here are the knock-offs: https://twitter.com/daftlol/status/320864068921602048 https://twitter.com/MaldivesFG/status/320873751937941505 https://twitter.com/fasyibrahim/status/320867770722025474 I <3 Maldives, just not the baagees. #OpMaldives
