23 JANUARY 2006

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Mohamed Nasheed’s trial scheduled for the 25th of January. Peaceful Protest planned by pro-democracy campaigners on the 24th of January. 

Elected chairman of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Mohamed Nasheeds trial is due to take place on the 25th of January 2006.  Mohamed Nasheed remains unaware of all the charges against him. The verdict will be an indication of the commitment of the Government of Maldives towards real democratic reforms.  The continued detention of Nasheed causes an impasse to democratic reforms in the Maldives. 

The elected leadership of the MDP have called for a peaceful protest on the 24th of January in support of their chairman and to protest at the recent violence perpetrated against members of the MDP by the National Security Service and regime sponsored private militia. 

The recent instances of violence include:- 

- On the 5th of January, the Police attacked the pro MDP islanders of Fares Maathodaa.  Women, children and elderly were beaten, making it one of the worst acts of police violence against islanders in recent history. 

- On the 13th of January the Southern Addu Atoll witnessed attacks on young MDP supporters and MDP Members of Parliament following an MDP meeting. 

- On the 18th of January, an MDP supporter was stabbed and seriously injured in Male’ whilst police looked on.  

FOM remain concerned that the government, through the armed forces and/or government sponsored street gangs will attack the demonstrators, possibly in order to create violence and to justify a mass crack-down.  

The government is already using state media to spread propaganda claiming weapons have been found near to where the protest is due to be held. The government made similar claims about ‘weapons caches’ during the August 2005 civil unrest just prior to the arrest of hundreds of opposition supporters. The claim was unsupported with credible evidence.   The MDP maintain this is to be a peaceful protest. 

FOM urges the Government of Maldives to: -

1. Cease attacking members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party either by police action or by sponsored street gangs.
2. Allow peaceful protests to take place as allowed under article 26 of the constitution of the Maldives.
3. Drop all charges against Mohamed Nasheed, having failed to guarantee him a fair trial.
4. Release all Political Prisoners of Conscience immediately.

FOM calls on the International Community to:

• Place an immediate travel ban on members of the Government and other officials of the Maldives from travelling abroad into concerned countries
• Determine where Maldivian government funds are banked overseas and to seize those funds and assets
• Cease the supply of arms and other weaponry used by the security forces against the pro-democracy opposition
• Issue travel advisories giving thorough warnings to all tourists planning to go the Maldives of the appalling human rights record of this country
• Commence investigations against individuals in the government who are accused of murder, torture and other human rights abuses by the opposition groups with a view to bringing these individuals to trial.
• Immediately cease all non essential aid to the Maldivian government.  If aid is given measures are in place to ensure full transparency and accountability.  Aid should rather be given to non-governmental Aid organisations working in the Maldives

Background Notes on Mohamed Nasheed’s trial:  

Mohamed Nasheed was arrested the 12th of August 2005 following a peaceful vigil in Male’. The government initially said Mohamed Nasheed was being detained for his own safety but he was later accused of sedition and terrorism.  

A delegation of barristers led by Sir Ivan Lawrence QC made a series of recommendations to the Maldives Attorney General in an attempt to ensure Mohamed Nasheed a fair trial. The recommendations made by the delegation were ignored.  The trial is deemed to be unfair by legal observers.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Friends of Maldives 
UK spokesperson: David Hardingham +44 (0)7812 166453

64 Milford Street 
Salisbury 
SP1 2BP 
United Kingdom 
T: +44 (0)1722 504330 
E: enquiries@friendsofmaldives.org 
W: www.friendsofmaldives.org

NOTES TO EDITORS

Friends of Maldives (FOM) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights in the Maldives. Based in the UK and established in 2003. FOM focuses its activities on providing support and publicity to prisoners of conscience and good governance in the Maldives.