It was the largest anti-government demonstration in the history of Maldives. People from all walks of life gathered at the Republican Square on 12-13 August 2004 to protest against the dictatorship of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. To disperse the crowd, NSS used force and beat a number of protesters. It was also the first time so many people were arrested and detained for an anti-government protest. Yet, the government of Gayoom tried to cover up this incident and told the world media that only a handful of people were there. They said that only extremists and terrorists were protesting against the government and that NSS was forced to take action when police officers were stabbed and government buildings were set on fire. We all know that the stabbing was an isolated incident. We all know now that it was Yameen's gang that orchestrated a small fire at Huravee Building. Who was the person who was in charge of sending false stories to the international media and diplomats and cover up the story of Black Friday? It was the Chief Government Spokesperson of the time. The person who is now ambitiously trying to fool the Maldivian population into thinking that he will be an honest and sincere Vice President. That person is Dr Ahmed Shaheed, Gayoom's loyal spin doctor.
Dr Shaheed told the Associated Press (AP) that he would not call it a pro-democracy demonstration.
Dr Shaheed told BBC that it was not a pro-democracy demonstration and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was a very popular president in the Maldives.Chief government spokesman Ahmed Shaheed downplayed the demonstration.
I will not call it a pro-democracy demonstration. Being a Friday, people just gathered, he said.
Dr Shaheed speaks on BBC. He says that he would not call this a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration. He says the NSS had to take action because two NSS officers were stabbed. He goes on to say that Maumoon Gayyoom is a very popular president in Maldives.
Despite Dr Shaheed's efforts the international media was not fooled. A number of newspapers and news agencies carried the story of how the government cracked down on peaceful protesters.
After beating the demonstrators and torturing them the government was ready to sentence them for long terms in jail. Who was the mastermind who wished to see them charged and sentenced while they were in detention? Gayoom's faithful Attorney General of the time Dr Hassan Saeed. The wicked plans of Dr Hassan Saeed and Dr Ahmed Shaheed, acting under guidance from Gayoom, could not be implemented because the European Union threatened to impose sanctions on Maldives. The Black Friday prisoners had to be released.
When we scan the pages of Dhivehi Observer we see how much Dr Shaheed was instrumental in sustaining the dictatorship of Gayoom. One archive page from DO is enough to reveal the extent of Dr Shaheed's lies.
- Contrary to what the Golhaabo's media has been reporting in the Maldives and what Dr. Shaheed has been spinning on TVM, the international community is fully aware of and concerned about the on-going situation in the Maldives, especially the British Parliament and the European Union.
- Furthermore, Dr. Shaheed is spreading the rumour that we report things differently in English to the international community to the reports we write in Dhivehi. That is the exact game that they played for the past 28 years to keep people quite under their oppressive rule. Our readers might not all be PhD holders but they also have a good knowledge of English language.
- Reliable sources said that discussions were going on between UN and Golhaabo and a window was being provided to Abbas for an appeal. However, soon after Abbas agreed to leave the building, it was reportedly surrounded by Golhaa Force. Dr. Shaheed reportedly backtracked from his promise and told Golhaa Force to apprehend him as he comes out. Abbas had been sentenced for 6 months in jail in absentia despite that fact that he lives in Male', for disobeying orders.
Who was the person who introduced sentencing in absentia to the legal system of Maldives as a means of keeping dissidents behind bars? It was Dr Hassan Saeed, the ex-Attorney General, who is now taking credit for all reforms that has been introduced to the Maldives.
Shaheed and Saeed were no reformists. They were the architects behind keeping so many pro-democracy activists behind bars during the past few years. It was Dr Shaheed who was responsible for keeping Dhiraagu DhivehiNet System Administrator Ismail Faiz (PH) in dentention because Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) told Dr Shaheed that PH was updating Dhivehi Observer.
So when you cast your vote on 8 October, will you vote for the people who caused most harm to the democracy movement? Even if Solah Shihab and Ahmed Mujuthaba don't have a conscience, would you be able to vote for Saeed and Shaeed, fully knowing that they were supporters of Gayoom's torture and not really reformists?
"Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise"
Bob Dylan, Hurricane
